Which Air Conditioning Refrigerants Are Being Phased Out?

You might not think much about how your air conditioner operates, but it requires refrigerant to keep your residence cold. This refrigerant is subject to environmental rules, since it contains chemicals.

Based on when your air conditioner was put in, it may require R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Pflugerville, as well as 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 probably contains Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner contains it by contacting us at 512-355-1482. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your house. This sticker will contain details on what model of refrigerant your AC has.

Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that leads to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its production 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 operating fine, you can continue to keep it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to last around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling costs!

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it might lead to difficulties if you need air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be higher-priced, since only limited amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.

With the end of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer in good shape. Because it requires a varying pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the possibility to create global warming. Because of that, it may also ultimately be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?

In preparation of the discontinuation, some companies have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming possibility—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy expenditure by around 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be sent on to you through your utility costs.

Evenaire Heating & Air Conditioning Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In brief, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you very much until you require repairs. But as we discussed earlier, repairs connected to refrigerant can be pricier due to the reduced levels on hand.

Not to mention, your air conditioner usually malfunctions at the worst time, often on the muggiest day when we’re experiencing many 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 ensures a stress-free summer and might even lower your utility expenses, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Evenaire Heating & Air Conditioning has many financing programs to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 512-355-1482 to get started today with a free estimate.