You might not think much about how your air conditioner works, but it requires refrigerant to keep your house fresh. This refrigerant is subject to environmental rules, because of the chemicals it contains.
Subject to when your air conditioner was installed, it may require R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in West Columbia, as well as how these phaseouts impact you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It No Longer Being Made?
If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it likely has Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner has it by contacting us at 803-265-4208. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your residence. This sticker will include info on what model of refrigerant your AC needs.
Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, barred its production and import in January 2020.
I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?
It differs. If your air conditioning is cooling correctly, you can continue to use it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling bills!
If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it might create difficulties if you require air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be higher-priced, as only reduced quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.
With the discontinuation of R-22, many new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer healthy. Since it calls for a different pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the potential to lead to global warming. As a result, it could also ultimately be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take the Place of R-410A?
In preparation of the discontinuation, some brands have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming potential—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy consumption by around 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 energy bills.
Tri City Fuel & Heating Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In short, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you greatly until you have to have repairs. But as we talked about beforehand, refrigerant-related repairs can be more costly because of the low levels on hand.
Not to mention, your air conditioner usually stops working at the worst time, typically on the muggiest day when we’re experiencing lots of other requests for AC repair.
If your air conditioner requires a phased out refrigerant or is aging, we advise getting an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a stress-free summer and might even lower your utility bills, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Tri City Fuel & Heating provides many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 803-265-4208 to get started today with a free estimate.
