You might not think much about how your air conditioner functions, but it requires refrigerant to keep your house fresh. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental regulation, because of the chemicals it contains.
Based on when your air conditioner was put in, it may require R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll discuss the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Middletown, plus how these phaseouts have on influence on you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It No Longer Being Made?
If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it probably uses Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner contains it by contacting us at 302-231-1380. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your home. This sticker will have details on what type of refrigerant your AC needs.
Freon, which is also known as R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, barred its production and import in January 2020.
I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?
It depends. If your air conditioning is operating as designed, you can continue to use it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning 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 summertime cooling bills!
If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it might create a problem if you require air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be more expensive, because only limited quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.
With the discontinuation of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer strong. Because it needs a varying 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. As a consequence, it may also eventually be phased out. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated 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—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy consumption by around 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be forwarded on to you through your cooling expenses.
SchagrinGAS Company Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In summary, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you very much until you require repairs. But as we discussed beforehand, repairs connected to refrigerant might be pricier due to the low quantities available.
Aside from that, your air conditioner typically malfunctions at the worst time, frequently on the hottest day when we’re getting a lot of other requests for AC repair.
If your air conditioner uses an outdated refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we advise upgrading to a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a stress-free summer and may even decrease your cooling bills, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, SchagrinGAS Company provides many financing options to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 302-231-1380 to begin today with a free estimate.
