How Does Air Conditioning Refrigerant Phaseout Affect Me?

You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner works, but it requires refrigerant to keep your house cool. This refrigerant is bound by environmental rules, because of the chemicals it contains.

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 Central Point, as well as how these phaseouts have on influence on you.

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

If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it likely contains Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner contains it by calling us at 541-286-6617. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your house. This sticker will have details on what model of refrigerant your AC uses.

Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that results in global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, banned its production and import in January 2020.

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

It varies. If your air conditioning is running properly, 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 notes that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling costs!

If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it can cause difficulties if you have to have air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be pricier, because only reduced quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.

With the phaseout of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer strong. As it requires an incompatible pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the possibility to create global warming. As a result, it could also ultimately be phased out. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take the Place of R-410A?

In preparation of the discontinuation, some companies have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified 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 passed on to you through your energy expenses.

Titan Heating & Air Conditioning Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In brief, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you very much until you require repairs. But as we went over previously, refrigerant repairs may be pricier since there are the low quantities on hand.

In addition to that, your air conditioner often stops working at the worst time, often on the hottest day when we’re getting many other requests for AC repair.

If your air conditioner requires an outdated refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we recommend getting a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a hassle-free summer and may even decrease your electrical bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Titan Heating & Air Conditioning offers many financing options to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 541-286-6617 to get started now with a free estimate.