You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner functions, but it needs refrigerant to keep your residence cold. This refrigerant is subject to environmental rules, because of the chemicals it contains.
Subject to when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may need R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Northridge, as well as how these phaseouts impact you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It Discontinued?
If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it likely contains Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner uses it by calling us at (818) 727-9993. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your residence. This sticker will contain details on what model of refrigerant your AC needs.
Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical 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, banned its manufacture and import in January 2020.
Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?
It differs. If your air conditioning is operating fine, you can continue to run it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling costs!
If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it may lead to a problem if you require air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be more expensive, since only reduced amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.
With the discontinuation of R-22, most new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer healthy. Since it requires a different pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the likelihood to create global warming. As a result, it could also sometime be phased out. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?
In preparation of the phaseout, some manufacturers have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming possibility—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy expenditure by around 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 cooling costs.
Enertek Air Conditioning & Heating Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In brief, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you very much until you need repairs. But as we discussed beforehand, refrigerant-related repairs might be more costly since there are the restricted amounts that are accessible.
Not to mention, your air conditioner usually breaks down at the worst time, often on the muggiest day when we’re receiving a lot of other appointments for AC repair.
If your air conditioner relies on a discontinued refrigerant or is getting old, we advise getting a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a stress-free summer and could even decrease your cooling expenses, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Enertek Air Conditioning & Heating provides many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at (818) 727-9993 to begin today with a free estimate.
