You might not think often about how your air conditioner functions, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your home cool. This refrigerant is bound by environmental regulation, since it contains chemicals.
Subject to when your air conditioner was installed, 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 Jefferson City, in addition to how these phaseouts impact you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?
If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it likely uses Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner uses it by calling us at 573-635-3547. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your residence. This sticker will include info on what type of refrigerant your AC needs.
Freon, which is also called R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that leads to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its creation and import in January 2020.
I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?
It differs. If your air conditioning is running correctly, you can continue to run it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on annual cooling bills!
If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it may cause an issue if you have to have air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be higher-priced, as only reduced amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.
With the end of R-22, many new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer healthy. Since it requires a varying pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the potential to lead to global warming. As a consequence, it may also ultimately be ended. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?
In preparation of the phaseout, some brands have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming possibility—about 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 forwarded on to you through your energy costs.
Stieferman Heating Company Inc Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In short, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you a whole lot until you need repairs. But as we went over earlier, refrigerant repairs might be more costly due to the restricted quantities available.
In addition to that, your air conditioner typically stops working at the worst time, typically on the muggiest day when we’re receiving many other requests for AC repair.
If your air conditioner relies on a discontinued refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we recommend installing a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a hassle-free summer and may even decrease your cooling bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Stieferman Heating Company Inc has many financing programs to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 573-635-3547 to get started today with a free estimate.