You might not think much about how your air conditioner works, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your home cold. This refrigerant is subject to environmental rules, since it contains chemicals.
Based on when your air conditioner was installed, it may use R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll discuss the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Highlands Ranch, plus 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 likely has Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner uses it by contacting us at 720-613-2210. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your home. This sticker will include details on what model of refrigerant your AC has.
Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs refrigerants in the United States, banned its production and import in January 2020.
Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?
It varies. If your air conditioning is cooling as designed, you can continue to keep it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to last around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that replacing 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 lead to an issue if you have to have air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be pricier, since only limited amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.
With the phaseout of R-22, many new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer healthy. As it requires an incompatible pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the possibility to create global warming. As a result, it might also sometime be phased out. Although it hasn’t been communicated 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 ranks low for global warming potential—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy consumption by around 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that could be passed on to you through your cooling expenses.
PS Cool Heat Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In brief, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you very much until you require repairs. But as we discussed beforehand, refrigerant-related repairs might be more expensive due to the reduced amounts available.
Not to mention, your air conditioner often malfunctions at the worst time, often on the muggiest day when we’re receiving a lot of other calls for AC repair.
If your air conditioner requires an outdated refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we suggest upgrading to an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a stress-free summer and can even lower your utility bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, PS Cool Heat provides many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 720-613-2210 to start today with a free estimate.