You might not think often about how your air conditioner functions, but it needs refrigerant to keep your residence fresh. This refrigerant is subject to environmental laws, as it contains chemicals.
Depending on 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 Longview, as well as how these phaseouts have on influence on you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?
If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it probably contains Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner has it by calling us at 903-284-2612. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your house. This sticker will include info on what model of refrigerant your AC needs.
Freon, which is also called R-22, includes 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 controls refrigerants in the United States, banned its manufacture and import in January 2020.
Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?
It depends. If your air conditioning is cooling correctly, you can continue to keep it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning 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 yearly cooling bills!
If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it may create an issue if you need air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be pricier, because only limited amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.
With the end of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer strong. As it requires an incompatible 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. Because of that, it could also eventually be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take the Place of R-410A?
In preparation of the phaseout, some companies have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming potential—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy consumption 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 bills.
Goode Bros AC & Heating Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In brief, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you a whole lot until you have to have repairs. But as we went over earlier, refrigerant repairs might be more costly since there are the restricted levels on hand.
In addition to that, your air conditioner usually breaks down at the worst time, typically on the warmest day when we’re receiving lots of other calls for AC repair.
If your air conditioner requires a discontinued refrigerant or is aging, we suggest upgrading to an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a hassle-free summer and could even decrease your cooling expenses, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Goode Bros AC & Heating has many financing options to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 903-284-2612 to get started right away with a free estimate.
