How Does Air Conditioning Refrigerant Phaseout Affect Me?

You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner works, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your residence cool. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental rules, as it contains chemicals.

Based on when your air conditioner was added to your home, 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 Carson City, plus how these phaseouts have on influence on you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it probably contains Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner contains it by calling us at 775-230-7628. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your home. This sticker will have details on what model of refrigerant your AC uses.

Freon, which is also known as R-22, contains 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 controls refrigerants in the United States, barred its production and import in January 2020.

Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?

It differs. If your air conditioning is running correctly, you can continue to keep it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling bills!

If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it may cause a problem if you have to have air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be more expensive, as only limited levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the end of R-22, most new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer strong. Since it needs a varying pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the possibility to create global warming. Because of that, it might also sometime 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 end, some companies have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming possibility—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy use by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that could be forwarded on to you through your utility bills.

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

In brief, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you greatly until you have to have repairs. But as we went over beforehand, refrigerant-related repairs might be pricier because of the low amounts available.

Aside from that, your air conditioner often stops working at the worst time, frequently on the warmest day when we’re experiencing many other calls for AC repair.

If your air conditioner requires a discontinued refrigerant or is aging, we advise upgrading to a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a hassle-free summer and might even reduce your electrical expenses, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Anderson Heating & A/C provides many financing programs to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 775-230-7628 to start right away with a free estimate.