You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner operates, but it needs refrigerant to keep your house cool. This refrigerant is bound by environmental regulation, 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 discuss the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Monroe, plus how these phaseouts affect you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?
If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it likely uses Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner uses it by reaching us at 608-291-3606. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your home. This sticker will include details on what model of refrigerant your AC needs.
Freon, which is also known as R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its production and import in January 2020.
I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?
It differs. If your air conditioning is operating fine, you can continue to run it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to run 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 get a new air conditioner, it might create an issue if you have to have air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be pricier, because 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 in good shape. Since it needs a different pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the likelihood to contribute to global warming. Because of that, it may also sometime be phased out. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?
In preparation of the end, some brands have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming potential—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy consumption by approximately 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that may be passed on to you through your utility bills.
Lanz Furnace and Fireplace Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In short, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you greatly until you require repairs. But as we went over beforehand, refrigerant-related repairs can be more expensive since there are the reduced levels that are accessible.
In addition to that, your air conditioner often malfunctions at the worst time, frequently on the warmest day when we’re receiving a lot of other calls for AC repair.
If your air conditioner relies on a phased out refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we recommend getting an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a hassle-free summer and might even decrease your electrical bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Lanz Furnace and Fireplace offers many financing options to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 608-291-3606 to begin right away with a free estimate.
