You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner operates, but it requires refrigerant to keep your residence cold. This refrigerant is bound by environmental laws, since it contains chemicals.
Based 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 Newark, as well as how these phaseouts have on influence on you.
What’s R-22 and Why is It No Longer Being Made?
If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it likely has Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner uses it by calling us at 740-200-5591. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your house. This sticker will have info on what type of refrigerant your AC uses.
Freon, which is also called R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical 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 manufacture and import in January 2020.
Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?
It depends. If your air conditioning is working properly, you can continue to keep it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling costs!
If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it could lead to difficulties if you require air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be pricier, since only small levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.
With the end of R-22, many new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer strong. Because it needs a varying pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the potential to lead to global warming. As a consequence, it might also eventually be phased out. Although it hasn’t been announced yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?
In preparation of the discontinuation, some companies have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming possibility—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy expenditure by about 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 utility bills.
Luikart Heating & Cooling Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In short, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you a whole lot until you require repairs. But as we discussed previously, refrigerant-related repairs can be pricier because of the reduced quantities on hand.
Aside from that, your air conditioner often needs repair at the worst time, typically on the warmest day when we’re getting lots of other calls for AC repair.
If your air conditioner relies on an outdated refrigerant or is getting old, we suggest installing a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a trouble-free summer and may even reduce your utility bills, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Luikart Heating & Cooling offers many financing options to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 740-200-5591 to begin now with a free estimate.