You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner functions, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your residence cold. This refrigerant is subject to environmental laws, since it contains chemicals.
Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may require R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll review the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Omaha, plus 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 contains Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner contains it by reaching us at 402-628-0206. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your house. This sticker will include details on what kind of refrigerant your AC has.
Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, has 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 oversees refrigerants in the United States, banned its production 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 operating fine, you can continue to use it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on annual cooling expenses!
If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it may create difficulties if you need air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be more expensive, since only small amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.
With the phaseout of R-22, many new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer strong. Because it calls for a different pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the possibility to lead to global warming. As a result, it could also ultimately be phased out. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?
In preparation of the end, some manufacturers have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming possibility—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy consumption 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 energy bills.
The Frazier Company Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In brief, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you very much until you require repairs. But as we mentioned earlier, refrigerant-related repairs could be more expensive since there are the reduced amounts on hand.
In addition to that, your air conditioner frequently needs repair at the worst time, typically on the warmest day when we’re experiencing a lot of other requests for AC repair.
If your air conditioner uses a discontinued refrigerant or is getting old, we advise installing a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a trouble-free summer and can even reduce your utility costs, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, The Frazier Company has many financing options to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 402-628-0206 to get started now with a free estimate.