You might not think much about how your air conditioner functions, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your home fresh. This refrigerant is subject to environmental regulation, as it contains chemicals.

Subject to when your air conditioner was installed, it may use R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll discuss the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Huntingburg, in addition to how these phaseouts affect you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It No Longer Being Made?

If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it likely has Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner uses it by reaching us at 812-200-5844. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your residence. This sticker will have info on what type of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also known as R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be bad for 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 production 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 regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to work around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling bills!

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it may cause difficulties if you require air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be pricier, since only limited amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.

With the discontinuation of R-22, many new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer in good shape. Since it calls for an incompatible pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the likelihood to contribute to global warming. Because of that, it might also ultimately be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take the Place of R-410A?

In preparation of the phaseout, some brands have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming likelihood—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy consumption by about 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 expenses.

Dearing's Service & Solutions Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In brief, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you greatly until you need repairs. But as we discussed beforehand, repairs connected to refrigerant can be pricier since there are the reduced quantities available.

In addition to that, your air conditioner often breaks down at the worst time, often on the warmest day when we’re receiving a lot of other requests for AC repair.

If your air conditioner uses a discontinued refrigerant or is getting old, we recommend getting an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a hassle-free summer and might even reduce your cooling bills, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Dearing's Service & Solutions offers many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 812-200-5844 to start right away with a free estimate.