You might not think often about how your air conditioner operates, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your home cold. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental rules, since it contains chemicals.

Based on when your air conditioner was put in, it may use R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Norton, 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 put in before 2010, it possibly uses Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner uses it by reaching us at 276-302-0076. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your home. This sticker will contain info on what type of refrigerant your AC has.

Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical 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, banned its production and import in January 2020.

Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?

It differs. If your air conditioning is operating as designed, you can continue to keep it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC 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 annual cooling costs!

If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it may cause a problem if you need air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be pricier, as only reduced levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the discontinuation of R-22, many new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer strong. Because it calls for a different pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the potential to contribute to global warming. As a result, it might also eventually be ended. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?

In preparation of the discontinuation, some companies have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming possibility—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy expenditure by about 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 energy bills.

HCE Systems Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In summary, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you greatly until you have to have repairs. But as we talked about earlier, refrigerant repairs might be more expensive due to the low quantities available.

In addition to that, your air conditioner usually breaks down at the worst time, frequently on the muggiest day when we’re getting a lot of other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner uses a phased out refrigerant or is getting old, we suggest getting an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a trouble-free summer and can even reduce your cooling costs, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, HCE Systems offers many financing options to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 276-302-0076 to get started right away with a free estimate.