You might not think much about how your air conditioner functions, but it has to have refrigerant to keep your house cool. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental regulation, because of the chemicals it contains.
Subject to when your air conditioner was put in, it may need R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Delray Beach, in addition to how these phaseouts affect you.
What’s R-22 and Why is It Discontinued?
If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it likely has Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner contains it by contacting us at 561-287-7071. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your house. This sticker will include information on what kind of refrigerant your AC uses.
Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs 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 working correctly, you can continue to run 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 expenses!
If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it might cause an issue if you need air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be more expensive, because only limited amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.
With the end 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. 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 likelihood to create global warming. Because of that, it could also eventually be ended. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take the Place of R-410A?
In preparation of the discontinuation, some brands have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming likelihood—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy use by approximately 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be passed on to you through your cooling expenses.
Kilbourne Heating & AC Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In brief, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you greatly until you need repairs. But as we discussed beforehand, refrigerant-related repairs could be pricier because of the low levels on hand.
Not to mention, your air conditioner frequently malfunctions at the worst time, typically on the warmest day when we’re receiving a lot of other requests for AC repair.
If your air conditioner relies on a phased out refrigerant or is aging, we recommend getting a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a hassle-free summer and might even reduce your energy costs, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Kilbourne Heating & AC offers many financing programs to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 561-287-7071 to begin now with a free estimate.