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

Based on when your air conditioner was installed, it may use R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll discuss the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Athol, as well as how these phaseouts impact you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Discontinued?

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it probably contains Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner uses it by contacting us at 208-561-1226. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your residence. This sticker will include information on what kind of refrigerant your AC uses.

Freon, which is also known as R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs refrigerants in the United States, outlawed 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 running properly, you can continue to keep it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling costs!

If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it might lead to a problem if you need air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be more expensive, because only limited amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the phaseout of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer strong. Because it requires a varying pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the possibility to contribute to global warming. As a result, it might also sometime be discontinued. 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 phaseout, some manufacturers have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming likelihood—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy expenditure by about 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 utility expenses.

Alpine Summit Heating & Cooling Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In brief, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you greatly until you have to have repairs. But as we went over earlier, repairs connected to refrigerant might be pricier because of the low levels that are accessible.

Aside from that, your air conditioner usually breaks down at the worst time, often on the muggiest day when we’re experiencing many other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner uses a phased out refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we advise installing a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a hassle-free summer and may even decrease your utility bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Alpine Summit Heating & Cooling has many financing programs to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 208-561-1226 to get started today with a free estimate.