Are Air Conditioning Refrigerants Being Phased Out?

You might not think often about how your air conditioner operates, but it requires refrigerant to keep your residence cool. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental rules, because of the chemicals it contains.

Subject to when your air conditioner was put in, it may require R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Lake Forest, as well as how these phaseouts impact you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it possibly uses Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner contains it by reaching us at 949-204-0859. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your house. This sticker will contain details on what type of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs 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 depends. If your air conditioning is operating correctly, you can continue to use it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling costs!

If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it might cause a problem if you have to have air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be pricier, since only limited amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the discontinuation of R-22, many new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer healthy. Since it requires an incompatible pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the potential to lead to global warming. As a result, it may also ultimately be discontinued. 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 end, some brands have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming likelihood—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy expenditure by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that may be passed on to you through your energy expenses.

1st Choice Heating & Air Conditioning Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you very much until you require repairs. But as we went over earlier, repairs connected to refrigerant can be more expensive because of the low quantities on hand.

Not to mention, your air conditioner often breaks down at the worst time, typically on the hottest day when we’re getting many other requests for AC repair.

If your air conditioner uses a discontinued refrigerant or is getting old, we suggest upgrading to an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a trouble-free summer and might even lower your cooling bills, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, 1st Choice Heating & Air Conditioning offers many financing programs to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 949-204-0859 to start now with a free estimate.