You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner operates, but it requires refrigerant to keep your home fresh. This refrigerant is bound by environmental laws, because of the chemicals it contains.
Subject to when your air conditioner was put in, 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 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 find out 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 house. This sticker will contain 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 bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs refrigerants in the United States, banned its creation and import in January 2020.
Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?
It varies. If your air conditioning is running as designed, you can continue to keep it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to last around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling bills!
If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it may cause an issue if you require air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be pricier, because only limited quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.
With the phaseout of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer healthy. Since it needs an incompatible pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the possibility to contribute to global warming. As a consequence, it could also sometime be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?
In preparation of the discontinuation, some brands have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming potential—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy expenditure by around 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that could be sent on to you through your cooling expenses.
Tri City Fuel & Heating Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In short, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you very much until you require repairs. But as we went over beforehand, repairs connected to refrigerant might be more expensive due to the restricted levels that are accessible.
Not to mention, your air conditioner typically malfunctions at the worst time, typically on the warmest day when we’re getting a lot of other appointments for AC repair.
If your air conditioner relies on an outdated refrigerant or is aging, we suggest installing an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a hassle-free summer and can even reduce your electrical bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Tri City Fuel & Heating provides many financing options to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 803-265-4208 to get started today with a free estimate.
