Are Air Conditioning Refrigerants Being Phased Out?

You might not think often about how your air conditioner works, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your residence cool. This refrigerant is bound by environmental rules, since it contains chemicals.

Depending on when your air conditioner was put in, it may use R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Mission Viejo, plus how these phaseouts impact you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Discontinued?

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it possibly uses Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner has it by contacting us at 949-204-0859. 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 has.

Freon, which is also called R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that leads to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, banned its production and import in January 2020.

Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?

It differs. If your air conditioning is cooling as designed, you can continue to keep it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes 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 create a problem if you require air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be pricier, as only reduced levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.

With the phaseout of R-22, most new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer healthy. Because it needs a varying pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the potential to contribute to global warming. As a consequence, it could also ultimately be ended. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?

In preparation of the phaseout, some companies have begun 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 reduces energy use by around 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 cooling costs.

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

In short, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you greatly until you need repairs. But as we talked about previously, refrigerant repairs may be more costly since there are the restricted quantities on hand.

In addition to that, your air conditioner usually stops working at the worst time, often on the muggiest day when we’re experiencing lots of other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner requires a phased out refrigerant or is getting old, we suggest upgrading to a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a trouble-free summer and could even reduce your electrical bills, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, 1st Choice Heating & Air Conditioning has many financing programs to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 949-204-0859 to start right away with a free estimate.