You might not think often about how your air conditioner works, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your home cool. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental regulation, because of the chemicals it contains.

Subject to when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may use R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll discuss the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Eastland, plus how these phaseouts impact you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It No Longer Being Made?

If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it likely uses Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner has it by reaching us at 254-355-3833. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your home. This sticker will include information on what kind of refrigerant your AC has.

Freon, which is also known as R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that leads to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, banned its manufacture and import in January 2020.

I Use an Air Conditioner with R-22. Do I Need to Get a New One?

It differs. If your air conditioning is running properly, you can continue to run it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on annual cooling bills!

If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it can cause an issue if you have to have air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be higher-priced, since only reduced quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the discontinuation of R-22, most new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer healthy. Because it calls for a varying pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the potential to lead to global warming. As a consequence, it may also eventually be ended. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?

In preparation of the phaseout, some manufacturers have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming likelihood—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy consumption by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be passed on to you through your utility bills.

J & J Air Conditioning Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In summary, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you a whole lot until you have to have repairs. But as we discussed earlier, refrigerant repairs may be more costly because of the low quantities that are accessible.

Not to mention, your air conditioner typically breaks down at the worst time, often on the warmest day when we’re receiving lots of other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner requires a phased out refrigerant or is getting old, we recommend upgrading to a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a stress-free summer and can even lower your utility costs, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, J & J Air Conditioning offers many financing options to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 254-355-3833 to get started today with a free estimate.