Are Air Conditioning Refrigerants Being Phased Out?

You might not think often about how your air conditioner works, but it requires refrigerant to keep your house fresh. This refrigerant is bound by 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 Milledgeville and Middle Georgia, as well as how these phaseouts have on influence on you.

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

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it probably uses Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner contains it by reaching 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 include details on what type of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also known as R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs refrigerants in the United States, banned its creation and import in January 2020.

Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?

It varies. If your air conditioning is running fine, you can continue to keep it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on annual cooling expenses!

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it might create an issue if you require air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be higher-priced, as only small levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.

With the end of R-22, many new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer in good shape. As it needs a different pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the likelihood to lead to global warming. As a consequence, it might also sometime 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 end, some companies have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming possibility—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy use by approximately 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be passed on to you through your utility expenses.

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

In brief, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you very much until you have to have repairs. But as we discussed earlier, refrigerant-related repairs might be more costly because of the low quantities available.

In addition to that, your air conditioner often malfunctions at the worst time, typically on the hottest day when we’re receiving many other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on an outdated refrigerant or is getting old, we recommend upgrading to a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a hassle-free summer and could even decrease your cooling bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Air Concepts of Middle Georgia provides many financing options to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 478-200-5689 to start now with a free estimate.