You might not think often about how your air conditioner functions, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your residence cold. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental laws, as it contains chemicals.
Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may need R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll discuss the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Northridge, 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 put in before 2010, it likely uses Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner uses it by contacting us at (818) 727-9993. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your residence. This sticker will include information on what kind of refrigerant your AC has.
Freon, which is also called R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its creation and import in January 2020.
Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?
It differs. If your air conditioning is cooling correctly, you can continue to keep it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to work 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 bills!
If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it can create a problem if you need air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be pricier, since 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 known as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer healthy. Since it requires an incompatible 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. Because of that, it might also eventually be phased out. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?
In preparation of the end, some brands 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 decreases energy use by about 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 summary, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you a whole lot until you need repairs. But as we discussed previously, refrigerant-related repairs can be more costly since there are the low quantities available.
In addition to that, your air conditioner often malfunctions at the worst time, frequently on the warmest day when we’re experiencing many other appointments for AC repair.
If your air conditioner relies on an outdated refrigerant or is aging, we advise installing a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a stress-free summer and can even lower your cooling costs, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Enertek Air Conditioning & Heating has many financing programs to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at (818) 727-9993 to begin right away with a free estimate.
