Are Air Conditioning Refrigerants Being Phased Out?

You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner operates, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your home fresh. This refrigerant is bound by environmental laws, because of the chemicals it contains.

Based on when your air conditioner was installed, it may require 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, plus 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 probably uses Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner contains it by reaching us at 732-806-5536. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your house. This sticker will contain information on what kind of refrigerant your AC has.

Freon, which is also called R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to 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 depends. If your air conditioning is cooling as designed, you can continue to run it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on annual cooling expenses!

If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it can create difficulties if you require air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be pricier, since only reduced levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.

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

However, Puron still has the potential to create global warming. As a result, it could also eventually be phased out. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?

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

Aggressive Mechanical Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you very much until you require repairs. But as we went over beforehand, refrigerant-related repairs can be pricier because of the restricted levels that are accessible.

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

If your air conditioner relies on a discontinued refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we suggest upgrading to a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a hassle-free summer and may even lower your utility expenses, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Aggressive Mechanical provides many financing options to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 732-806-5536 to get started now with a free estimate.