Which Air Conditioning Refrigerants Are Being Phased Out?

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

Subject to when your air conditioner was put in, it may use R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll review the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Milledgeville and Middle Georgia, in addition to how these phaseouts affect you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Discontinued?

If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it likely uses Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner contains it by contacting us at 478-200-5689. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your residence. This sticker will contain information on what type of refrigerant your AC has.

Freon, which is also known as R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that leads to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its manufacture and import in January 2020.

I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?

It depends. If your air conditioning is operating correctly, you can continue to keep it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to work around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on annual cooling costs!

If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it can lead to an issue if you have to have air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be higher-priced, because only small amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.

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

However, Puron still has the possibility to lead to global warming. As a consequence, it might also ultimately be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take the Place of R-410A?

In preparation of the phaseout, some brands have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming potential—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy consumption by approximately 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.

Air Concepts of Middle Georgia Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you a whole lot until you need repairs. But as we talked about beforehand, refrigerant repairs may be more costly due to the low quantities that are accessible.

In addition to that, your air conditioner typically malfunctions at the worst time, often on the muggiest day when we’re getting lots of other requests for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on a phased out refrigerant or is getting old, we advise upgrading to a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a trouble-free summer and could even reduce your electrical bills, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Air Concepts of Middle Georgia offers many financing options to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 478-200-5689 to begin right away with a free estimate.