You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner functions, but it needs refrigerant to keep your house cold. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental regulation, as it contains chemicals.
Subject to 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 Saint Louis, 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 probably uses Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner has it by reaching us at 314-262-4541. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your residence. This sticker will include info on what type of refrigerant your AC has.
Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, includes 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 manages refrigerants in the United States, banned its creation and import in January 2020.
Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?
It differs. If your air conditioning is cooling as designed, you can continue to keep it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to work around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on annual cooling costs!
If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it may lead to a problem if you require air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be more expensive, since only limited quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.
With the end of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer healthy. Because it needs a different pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the likelihood to create global warming. Because of that, it may also sometime be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Replace 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 likelihood—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy use by around 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that may be forwarded on to you through your cooling costs.
Morgner Inc. Air Conditioning & Heating Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In summary, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you greatly until you have to have repairs. But as we went over earlier, refrigerant repairs might be more expensive due to the low amounts on hand.
In addition to that, your air conditioner often stops working at the worst time, typically on the warmest day when we’re experiencing many other appointments for AC repair.
If your air conditioner uses a phased out refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we recommend installing a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a hassle-free summer and could even reduce your cooling expenses, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Morgner Inc. Air Conditioning & Heating offers many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 314-262-4541 to get started now with a free estimate.