Which Air Conditioning Refrigerants Are Being Phased Out?

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

Subject to when your air conditioner was added to your home, 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 Hendersonville, as well as how these phaseouts impact you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It No Longer Being Made?

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it possibly contains Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner contains it by reaching us at 828-202-7025. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your house. This sticker will have details on what type of refrigerant your AC uses.

Freon, which is also known as R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that leads to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its creation and import in January 2020.

I Use an Air Conditioner with R-22. Do I Need to Get a New One?

It varies. If your air conditioning is running fine, you can continue to use it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to last around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that replacing 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 may lead to difficulties if you need air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be pricier, since only limited levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.

With the discontinuation of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer in good shape. As it requires a different pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the likelihood to create global warming. As a consequence, it might also ultimately be ended. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?

In preparation of the phaseout, some companies have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming potential—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 could be forwarded on to you through your utility costs.

Superior Comfort Systems Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In brief, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you a whole lot until you require repairs. But as we discussed previously, repairs connected to refrigerant might be more expensive due to the reduced levels available.

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

If your air conditioner requires a phased out refrigerant or is getting old, we advise upgrading to a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a hassle-free summer and may even lower your cooling expenses, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Superior Comfort Systems provides many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 828-202-7025 to start now with a free estimate.