You might not think often about how your air conditioner functions, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your house cold. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental regulation, because of the chemicals it contains.
Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may need R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Rock Hill, as well as how these phaseouts have on influence on you.
What’s R-22 and Why is It Discontinued?
If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it possibly contains Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner uses it by reaching us at 803-220-0761. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your house. This sticker will include details on what type of refrigerant your AC uses.
Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its production and import in January 2020.
Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?
It depends. If your air conditioning is cooling properly, you can continue to use it. With annual air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to work around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling costs!
If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it may create difficulties if you require air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be pricier, since only reduced amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.
With the discontinuation of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer strong. Because it needs a varying pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the likelihood to create global warming. Because of that, it might also ultimately be phased out. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?
In preparation of the phaseout, some companies have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming likelihood—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy expenditure by approximately 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that could be passed on to you through your utility bills.
US Air Heating and Cooling Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In summary, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you greatly until you need repairs. But as we discussed previously, refrigerant repairs could be more costly since there are the low amounts available.
Aside from that, your air conditioner often breaks down at the worst time, often on the warmest day when we’re experiencing lots of other appointments for AC repair.
If your air conditioner requires a discontinued refrigerant or is aging, we recommend getting a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a trouble-free summer and might even decrease your utility costs, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, US Air Heating and Cooling offers many financing programs to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 803-220-0761 to begin right away with a free estimate.