Are Air Conditioning Refrigerants Being Phased Out?

You might not think often about how your air conditioner works, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your house cold. This refrigerant is subject to environmental regulation, since 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 Carson City, in addition to 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 uses Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner has it by reaching us at 775-854-9700. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your home. This sticker will contain information on what type of refrigerant your AC has.

Freon, which is also called R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that results in global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, banned its manufacture and import in January 2020.

Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?

It varies. If your air conditioning is running correctly, you can continue to use it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling costs!

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it can lead to difficulties if you have to have air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be pricier, because only small levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.

With the discontinuation of R-22, many new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer in good shape. Since it requires a different pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the likelihood to contribute to global warming. As a consequence, it might also eventually be phased out. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?

In preparation of the phaseout, some brands have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming possibility—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy use by approximately 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 energy costs.

Anderson Heating & A/C Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In summary, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you very much until you need repairs. But as we talked about beforehand, refrigerant repairs might be more expensive due to the low levels that are accessible.

In addition to that, your air conditioner often stops working at the worst time, typically on the muggiest day when we’re receiving a lot of other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on an outdated refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we suggest upgrading to an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a trouble-free summer and may even reduce your utility bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Anderson Heating & A/C provides many financing options to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 775-854-9700 to get started today with a free estimate.