You might not think much about how your air conditioner operates, but it requires refrigerant to keep your residence fresh. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental laws, as it contains chemicals.
Subject to when your air conditioner was put in, 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 Cambridge, plus how these phaseouts have on influence on you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It No Longer Being Made?
If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it possibly contains Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner has it by reaching us at 410-228-4822. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your home. This sticker will have details on what model of refrigerant your AC needs.
Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, banned its manufacture 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 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 removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling bills!
If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it might lead to difficulties if you require air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be higher-priced, because only limited levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.
With the phaseout of R-22, most new air conditioners now use 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 match air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the likelihood to create global warming. As a result, it may also sometime be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?
In preparation of the discontinuation, some companies have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming potential—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy consumption by approximately 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that may be forwarded on to you through your energy expenses.
Pliescott HVAC Services LLC Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In summary, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you very much until you need repairs. But as we talked about previously, refrigerant-related repairs may be more costly since there are the low levels that are accessible.
Aside from that, your air conditioner usually stops working at the worst time, typically on the hottest day when we’re receiving a lot of other requests for AC repair.
If your air conditioner uses an outdated refrigerant or is getting old, we advise getting a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a stress-free summer and might even decrease your utility bills, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Pliescott HVAC Services LLC provides many financing options to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 410-228-4822 to get started today with a free estimate.