You might not think much about how your air conditioner operates, but it requires refrigerant to keep your house cold. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental regulation, since it contains chemicals.
Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may use R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll review the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Muskogee, in addition to how these phaseouts affect you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It Discontinued?
If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it likely contains Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner has it by reaching us at 918-682-8238. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your residence. This sticker will have info on what kind of refrigerant your AC needs.
Freon, which is also known 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, barred its creation and import in January 2020.
I Use an Air Conditioner with R-22. Do I Need to Get a New One?
It differs. If your air conditioning is running as designed, you can continue to keep it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC 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 yearly cooling costs!
If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it can create an issue if you require air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be higher-priced, as only reduced quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.
With the discontinuation of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer strong. Since it calls for a different pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the likelihood to create global warming. As a consequence, it could also ultimately be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely 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 is classified low for global warming likelihood—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy consumption by approximately 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that may be passed on to you through your utility costs.
Hix Air Conditioning Service, Inc. Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In brief, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you greatly until you require repairs. But as we discussed earlier, refrigerant repairs might be more costly because of the low amounts that are accessible.
In addition to that, your air conditioner usually malfunctions at the worst time, frequently on the hottest day when we’re experiencing many other calls for AC repair.
If your air conditioner uses an outdated refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we recommend upgrading to a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a hassle-free summer and could even lower your electrical bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Hix Air Conditioning Service, Inc. provides many financing programs to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 918-682-8238 to start now with a free estimate.