You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner operates, but it requires refrigerant to keep your residence cold. This refrigerant is bound by environmental laws, since it contains chemicals.

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 No Longer Being Made?

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it possibly uses Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner uses it by contacting us at 561-287-7071. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your home. This sticker will have details on what type of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also known 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 controls refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its manufacture and import in January 2020.

Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?

It varies. If your air conditioning is cooling properly, you can continue to run it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling bills!

If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it may lead to an issue if you have to have air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be higher-priced, because only small levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.

With the phaseout of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer in good shape. Since it needs an incompatible pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the likelihood to contribute to global warming. Because of that, it could also ultimately be ended. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?

In preparation of the discontinuation, some brands have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming potential—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy use by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be sent on to you through your utility costs.

Kilbourne Heating & AC Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In brief, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you a whole lot until you have to have repairs. But as we went over earlier, repairs connected to refrigerant might be more expensive because of the low amounts that are accessible.

Aside from that, your air conditioner usually malfunctions at the worst time, typically on the hottest day when we’re getting many other calls for AC repair.

If your air conditioner uses a discontinued refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we suggest upgrading to a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a stress-free summer and could even reduce your cooling bills, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Kilbourne Heating & AC offers many financing options to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 561-287-7071 to begin right away with a free estimate.