You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner functions, but it needs refrigerant to keep your house cold. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental laws, as it contains chemicals.
Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may need R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll review the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Pflugerville, as well as how these phaseouts have on influence on you.
What’s R-22 and Why is It Discontinued?
If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it likely uses Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner contains it by contacting us at 512-355-1482. You can also check the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your home. This sticker will include information on what model of refrigerant your AC has.
Freon, which is also called R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that results in global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, barred its manufacture and import in January 2020.
I Use an Air Conditioner with R-22. Do I Need to Get a New One?
It varies. If your air conditioning is working as designed, you can continue to use it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to last around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling costs!
If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it may create difficulties if you need air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be higher-priced, since only reduced levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.
With the phaseout of R-22, most new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer healthy. Because it needs a varying pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the likelihood to contribute to global warming. As a result, it may also sometime be ended. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?
In preparation of the end, some brands have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming likelihood—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy expenditure by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that could be passed on to you through your electrical costs.
Evenaire Heating & Air Conditioning Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In short, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you very much until you require repairs. But as we mentioned beforehand, refrigerant-related repairs might be pricier since there are the limited amounts that are accessible.
Not to mention, your air conditioner frequently malfunctions at the worst time, frequently on the hottest day when we’re receiving lots of other calls for AC repair.
If your air conditioner relies on an outdated refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we advise installing an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a stress-free summer and might even reduce your energy expenses, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Evenaire Heating & Air Conditioning provides many financing programs to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 512-355-1482 to begin now with a free estimate.