Are Air Conditioning Refrigerants Being Phased Out?

You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner works, but it requires refrigerant to keep your home cold. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental regulation, since it contains chemicals.

Based on 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 Newark, in addition to how these phaseouts affect you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It No Longer Being Made?

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it probably has Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner has it by reaching us at 740-344-5497. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your residence. This sticker will have info on what model of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also called R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts 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 running fine, you can continue to run it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to work around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling costs!

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it might lead to a problem if you have to have air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be more expensive, as only small levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

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

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

What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?

In preparation of the phaseout, some manufacturers have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates 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 utility bills.

Luikart Heating & Cooling Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you greatly until you have to have repairs. But as we went over earlier, repairs connected to refrigerant may be more costly due to the reduced quantities that are accessible.

Aside from that, your air conditioner usually stops working at the worst time, frequently on the hottest day when we’re experiencing lots of other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner uses a phased out refrigerant or is aging, we recommend getting an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a stress-free summer and may even lower your cooling bills, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Luikart Heating & Cooling provides many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 740-344-5497 to begin right away with a free estimate.