Are Air Conditioning Refrigerants Being Phased Out?

You might not think often about how your air conditioner works, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your house fresh. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental regulation, since it contains chemicals.

Based on when your air conditioner was added to your home, 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 Auburn and Opelika, plus how these phaseouts affect you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Discontinued?

If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it possibly uses Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner has it by reaching us at 334-524-2458. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your house. This sticker will have information on what model of refrigerant your AC uses.

Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that leads to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs refrigerants in the United States, barred its production and import in January 2020.

I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?

It varies. If your air conditioning is running properly, you can continue to use it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to work around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly 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 could be pricier, since only small amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.

With the end of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer in good shape. Since it needs a different pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.

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

What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?

In preparation of the end, some brands have initiated 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 lowers energy use by approximately 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that could be forwarded on to you through your utility bills.

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

In short, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you very much until you have to have repairs. But as we talked about earlier, repairs connected to refrigerant can be pricier because of the reduced amounts that are accessible.

Aside from that, your air conditioner often malfunctions at the worst time, typically on the hottest day when we’re getting a lot of other requests for AC repair.

If your air conditioner uses a phased out refrigerant or is aging, we advise upgrading to an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a stress-free summer and can even lower your utility expenses, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Farnell Mechanical, Inc. has many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 334-524-2458 to begin right away with a free estimate.