You might not think often about how your air conditioner functions, but it needs refrigerant to keep your home cold. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental rules, since it contains chemicals.
Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may need R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll review the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Mount Pleasant, plus 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 possibly contains Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner contains it by calling us at 843-485-0967. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your home. This sticker will include info on what model of refrigerant your AC has.
Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts 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 depends. If your air conditioning is running properly, you can continue to keep it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling costs!
If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it might lead to difficulties if you need air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be higher-priced, since only small quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.
With the end of R-22, many new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer in good shape. As 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 potential to contribute to global warming. As a result, it may also eventually be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?
In preparation of the phaseout, some manufacturers have initiated 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 use by around 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be sent on to you through your energy expenses.
Olde Towne Heating & Air Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In short, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you greatly until you require repairs. But as we discussed earlier, refrigerant-related repairs may be pricier since there are the reduced amounts available.
Aside from that, your air conditioner often 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 a phased out refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we recommend upgrading to an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a stress-free summer and may even decrease your electrical bills, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Olde Towne Heating & Air provides many financing programs to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 843-485-0967 to begin now with a free estimate.