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

Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, 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 Discontinued?

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it probably has Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner has it by reaching us at 608-291-3606. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your home. This sticker will include info on what kind of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also called R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, banned 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 running fine, you can continue to run it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to work around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on annual cooling bills!

If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it may cause a problem if you need air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be higher-priced, as only small 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 referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer healthy. As it needs a varying pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the likelihood to lead to global warming. Because of that, it might also sometime be ended. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.

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

In preparation of the end, some companies have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming likelihood—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy consumption by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that may be forwarded on to you through your cooling expenses.

Lanz Furnace and Fireplace Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In summary, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you greatly until you have to have repairs. But as we went over earlier, refrigerant-related repairs might be more costly since there are the restricted quantities that are accessible.

Aside from that, your air conditioner often malfunctions at the worst time, typically on the warmest day when we’re experiencing lots of other calls for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on a phased out refrigerant or is aging, we recommend installing an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a trouble-free summer and might even reduce your utility expenses, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Lanz Furnace and Fireplace offers many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 608-291-3606 to begin now with a free estimate.