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 fresh. This refrigerant is bound by environmental laws, since it contains chemicals.

Subject to when your air conditioner was installed, it may require R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll discuss the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Front Royal, plus how these phaseouts affect you.

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

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it possibly uses Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner has it by contacting us at 540-636-3396. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your residence. This sticker will contain details on what kind of refrigerant your AC has.

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

I Use an Air Conditioner with R-22. Do I Need to Get a New One?

It differs. If your air conditioning is cooling properly, you can continue to keep it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling expenses!

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it can cause an issue if you have to have air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be pricier, since only small levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the end of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer healthy. Because it needs an incompatible pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the possibility to lead to global warming. As a result, it could also eventually be discontinued. 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 companies have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming potential—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy consumption by around 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that may be passed on to you through your cooling costs.

Dave's Diversified Services Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In brief, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you a whole lot until you have to have repairs. But as we went over earlier, refrigerant-related repairs may be more expensive due to the reduced amounts that are accessible.

Aside from that, your air conditioner often breaks down at the worst time, typically on the hottest day when we’re getting lots of other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner uses a phased out refrigerant or is aging, we advise upgrading to a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a hassle-free summer and could even reduce your cooling expenses, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Dave's Diversified Services has many financing options to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 540-636-3396 to get started now with a free estimate.