Which Air Conditioning Refrigerants Are Being Phased Out?

You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner operates, but it needs refrigerant to keep your house fresh. This refrigerant is subject to environmental regulation, since it contains chemicals.

Based on when your air conditioner was added to your home, 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 Marshalltown, plus how these phaseouts affect you.

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

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it probably contains Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner has it by calling us at 641-316-3360. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your house. This sticker will contain info on what kind of refrigerant your AC has.

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

Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?

It differs. If your air conditioning is operating as designed, you can continue to run it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to last around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that replacing 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 might cause difficulties if you need air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be higher-priced, since only small levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.

With the phaseout of R-22, most new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer healthy. Since it calls for a varying pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the likelihood to lead to global warming. As a consequence, it may also ultimately be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been mandated 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 companies 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 decreases energy expenditure by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that may be sent on to you through your utility expenses.

B & G HVAC Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you a whole lot until you need repairs. But as we went over beforehand, repairs connected to refrigerant may be pricier since there are the reduced levels on hand.

Not to mention, your air conditioner frequently stops working at the worst time, frequently on the warmest day when we’re receiving lots of other calls for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on a discontinued refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we suggest installing a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a trouble-free summer and could even reduce your cooling costs, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, B & G HVAC has many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 641-316-3360 to start right away with a free estimate.