Are Air Conditioning Refrigerants Being Phased Out?

You might not think much about how your air conditioner operates, but it needs refrigerant to keep your residence fresh. This refrigerant is bound by environmental rules, since it contains chemicals.

Subject to when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may use R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll review the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Neptune City, in addition to how these phaseouts have on influence on you.

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

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it likely has Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner uses it by calling us at 732-806-5536. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your residence. This sticker will include information on what kind of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also called R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that results in global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its creation 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 correctly, you can continue to keep it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to work around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports 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 might create difficulties if you require air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be higher-priced, because only reduced amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.

With the end 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 strong. Since it requires a varying pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

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

What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?

In preparation of the end, some manufacturers have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming likelihood—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy consumption by approximately 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 expenses.

Aggressive Mechanical Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In brief, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you a whole lot until you need repairs. But as we talked about earlier, repairs connected to refrigerant might be more costly because of the low levels available.

Not to mention, your air conditioner usually stops working at the worst time, frequently on the muggiest day when we’re experiencing lots of other calls for AC repair.

If your air conditioner uses a phased out refrigerant or is getting old, we recommend getting a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a stress-free summer and could even decrease your cooling expenses, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Aggressive Mechanical has many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 732-806-5536 to start right away with a free estimate.