You might not think much about how your air conditioner functions, but it needs refrigerant to keep your residence cool. This refrigerant is subject to environmental rules, because of the chemicals it contains.

Depending on when your air conditioner was put in, 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 Huntingburg, 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 put in before 2010, it possibly contains Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner contains it by reaching us at 812-200-5844. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your home. 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 this chemical to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that leads to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its creation 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 run it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning 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 annual cooling bills!

If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it may cause difficulties if you need air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be higher-priced, because only reduced quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the phaseout of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer strong. Because it requires a varying pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the possibility to lead to global warming. As a consequence, it could also sometime be ended. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?

In preparation of the phaseout, some brands have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming potential—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy expenditure by around 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be passed on to you through your utility costs.

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

In summary, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you a whole lot until you have to have repairs. But as we talked about beforehand, refrigerant-related repairs may be more expensive because of the low amounts available.

In addition to that, your air conditioner typically malfunctions at the worst time, often on the warmest day when we’re experiencing lots of other calls for AC repair.

If your air conditioner requires an outdated refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we recommend upgrading to an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a trouble-free summer and may even reduce your cooling expenses, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Dearing's Service & Solutions offers many financing options to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 812-200-5844 to get started now with a free estimate.