You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner works, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your home cool. This refrigerant is bound by environmental rules, as 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 Marshalltown, in addition to how these phaseouts have on influence on you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It Discontinued?
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it possibly uses Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner has 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 home. This sticker will include details on what model 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 results in global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls 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 depends. If your air conditioning is operating properly, you can continue to run it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to work 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 expenses!
If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it can create difficulties if you have to have air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be more expensive, since only limited quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.
With the phaseout of R-22, most new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer in good shape. Because it needs an incompatible pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the likelihood to lead to global warming. As a consequence, it might also eventually be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?
In preparation of the discontinuation, some brands have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming possibility—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy use by approximately 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 utility expenses.
Kapaun & Brown Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In brief, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you a whole lot until you require repairs. But as we talked about previously, refrigerant-related repairs might be more expensive since there are the low amounts that are accessible.
Aside from that, your air conditioner often breaks down at the worst time, typically on the muggiest day when we’re receiving lots of other calls for AC repair.
If your air conditioner uses a discontinued refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we advise installing an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a hassle-free summer and can even reduce your cooling bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Kapaun & Brown offers many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 641-812-2028 to get started right away with a free estimate.