Are Air Conditioning Refrigerants Being Phased Out?

You might not think much about how your air conditioner functions, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your house fresh. This refrigerant is subject to environmental laws, as 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 Holbrook, as well as 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 probably has Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner has it by contacting us at 631-460-5159. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your home. This sticker will have details on what kind of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, outlawed 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 cooling as designed, you can continue to use it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling expenses!

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it may create difficulties if you need air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be higher-priced, because only limited quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the phaseout of R-22, many new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer strong. Since it needs a varying pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the possibility to create global warming. As a consequence, it might also ultimately be phased out. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.

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

In preparation of the discontinuation, some manufacturers have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming likelihood—around 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 might be passed on to you through your cooling expenses.

Fal-Ken Heating & Cooling Corporation Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In brief, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you very much until you need repairs. But as we discussed beforehand, refrigerant repairs can be more costly due to the low levels available.

In addition to that, your air conditioner usually malfunctions at the worst time, frequently on the hottest day when we’re experiencing many other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on an outdated refrigerant or is getting old, we advise upgrading to a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a trouble-free summer and may even lower your electrical expenses, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Fal-Ken Heating & Cooling Corporation offers many financing options to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 631-460-5159 to get started now with a free estimate.