Which Air Conditioning Refrigerants Are Being Phased Out?

You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner functions, but it requires refrigerant to keep your home fresh. This refrigerant is subject to environmental rules, because of the chemicals it contains.

Depending on when your air conditioner was installed, it may need R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Auburn and Opelika, as well as how these phaseouts affect you.

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

If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it possibly contains Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner has it by reaching us at 334-524-2458. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your home. This sticker will include details on what model of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, includes 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 controls refrigerants in the United States, barred its creation 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 operating correctly, you can continue to run it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to last around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling bills!

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it may lead to an issue if you have to have air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be more expensive, because only limited quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.

With the discontinuation of R-22, many new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer healthy. As it calls for a varying pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the possibility to create global warming. As a consequence, it may also sometime be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take the Place of R-410A?

In preparation of the discontinuation, 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 use by around 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 energy expenses.

Farnell Mechanical, Inc. Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you greatly until you require repairs. But as we talked about earlier, refrigerant-related repairs may be more costly since there are the low amounts that are accessible.

Not to mention, your air conditioner usually breaks down at the worst time, frequently on the hottest day when we’re experiencing a lot of other requests for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on an outdated refrigerant or is getting old, we recommend getting an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a stress-free summer and might even reduce your utility costs, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Farnell Mechanical, Inc. offers many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 334-524-2458 to get started now with a free estimate.