Are Air Conditioning Refrigerants Being Phased Out?

You might not think much about how your air conditioner functions, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your house cool. This refrigerant is bound by environmental regulation, as it contains chemicals.

Based on when your air conditioner was added to your home, 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 Marshalltown, plus 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 contains Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner uses it by reaching us at 641-812-2028. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your residence. This sticker will include details on what type of refrigerant your AC uses.

Freon, which is also called R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that leads to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, barred its production 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 cooling fine, you can continue to keep it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling bills!

If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it may create a problem if you have to have air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be more expensive, since only reduced amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.

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

However, Puron still has the potential to create global warming. As a consequence, it might 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 brands have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming likelihood—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy consumption by around 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that may be sent on to you through your energy expenses.

Kapaun & Brown Can Assist 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 talked about beforehand, refrigerant-related repairs might be pricier due to the restricted levels on hand.

Not to mention, your air conditioner typically breaks down at the worst time, frequently on the muggiest day when we’re receiving many other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner uses a phased out refrigerant or is getting old, we suggest getting a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a trouble-free summer and could even lower your electrical expenses, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Kapaun & Brown offers many financing options to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 641-812-2028 to get started right away with a free estimate.