You might not think often about how your air conditioner functions, but it requires refrigerant to keep your residence cold. This refrigerant is subject to environmental regulation, since it contains chemicals.
Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may need R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll discuss the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Bartlesville, plus how these phaseouts have on influence on you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It No Longer Being Made?
If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it likely uses Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner uses it by contacting us at 918-333-0376. You can also look at 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 needs.
Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider Freon 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 manufacture and import in January 2020.
I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?
It varies. If your air conditioning is running correctly, you can continue to run it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling expenses!
If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it can lead to a problem if you have to have air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be higher-priced, since only small amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.
With the phaseout of R-22, many new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer strong. Because it requires a varying pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the possibility to create global warming. As a consequence, it may also ultimately be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?
In preparation of the phaseout, some companies 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 lowers 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 cooling costs.
Farris Heating & Air Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In summary, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you very much until you require repairs. But as we discussed previously, repairs connected to refrigerant may be more expensive due to the reduced amounts that are accessible.
Aside from that, your air conditioner usually malfunctions at the worst time, often on the warmest day when we’re experiencing a lot of other requests for AC repair.
If your air conditioner relies on a discontinued refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we suggest getting a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a trouble-free summer and may even reduce your cooling bills, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Farris Heating & Air has many financing programs to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 918-333-0376 to begin now with a free estimate.