You might not think much about how your air conditioner operates, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your residence cool. This refrigerant is bound by environmental rules, since it contains chemicals.
Subject to when your air conditioner was installed, 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 Lincoln, in addition to how these phaseouts affect you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?
If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it possibly contains Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner uses it by calling us at 402-438-7992. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your home. This sticker will have details on what type of refrigerant your AC has.
Freon, which is also called R-22, includes 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 governs refrigerants in the United States, banned its manufacture and import in January 2020.
I Use an Air Conditioner with R-22. Do I Need to Get a New One?
It differs. If your air conditioning is operating fine, you can continue to use it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling costs!
If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it might create a problem if you need air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be pricier, since only limited quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.
With the end of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer healthy. Because it calls for an incompatible pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the potential to create global warming. As a consequence, it may also ultimately be phased out. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?
In preparation of the discontinuation, some brands have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming potential—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy expenditure by around 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 utility costs.
AW Heating & Air Conditioning Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In brief, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you a whole lot until you need repairs. But as we went over previously, refrigerant-related repairs can be pricier because of the low amounts available.
Aside from that, your air conditioner frequently stops working at the worst time, frequently on the hottest day when we’re receiving lots of other requests for AC repair.
If your air conditioner requires 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 could even decrease your utility costs, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, AW Heating & Air Conditioning provides many financing programs to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 402-438-7992 to start right away with a free estimate.
