How Does Air Conditioning Refrigerant Phaseout Affect Me?

You might not think much about how your air conditioner functions, but it requires refrigerant to keep your house cold. This refrigerant is bound by environmental rules, 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 Muskogee, plus how these phaseouts have on influence on you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it likely contains Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner has it by contacting us at 918-682-8238. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your house. This sticker will have information on what type of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, includes 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, barred its production and import in January 2020.

I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?

It depends. If your air conditioning is running as designed, you can continue to use it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling costs!

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it might lead to difficulties if you have to have air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be pricier, as only reduced levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.

With the phaseout of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer strong. Since it needs a different pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the possibility to contribute to global warming. Because of that, it may also sometime be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?

In preparation of the discontinuation, some manufacturers have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming likelihood—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy expenditure by about 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 cooling expenses.

Hix Air Conditioning Service, Inc. Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you very much until you need repairs. But as we went over beforehand, repairs connected to refrigerant might be more costly because of the restricted amounts available.

Aside from that, your air conditioner typically stops working at the worst time, frequently on the hottest day when we’re experiencing lots of other requests for AC repair.

If your air conditioner uses a discontinued refrigerant or is getting old, we advise upgrading to a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a stress-free summer and can even lower your utility expenses, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Hix Air Conditioning Service, Inc. has many financing programs to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 918-682-8238 to start now with a free estimate.