You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner functions, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your house cool. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental laws, 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 go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Columbus, as well as how these phaseouts have on influence on you.
What’s R-22 and Why is It Phased Out?
If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it probably uses Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner contains it by reaching us at 614-451-0846. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your house. This sticker will contain details on what type of refrigerant your AC uses.
Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that results in global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which oversees refrigerants in the United States, banned its production and import in January 2020.
I Use an Air Conditioner with R-22. Do I Need to Get a New One?
It varies. If your air conditioning is cooling as designed, you can continue to use it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on annual cooling costs!
If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it might cause a problem if you have to have air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be more expensive, since only reduced amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.
With the phaseout of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer in good shape. As it needs an incompatible pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the possibility to contribute to global warming. As a consequence, it might also sometime be ended. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?
In preparation of the discontinuation, some companies have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming likelihood—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy consumption by approximately 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that may be forwarded on to you through your energy expenses.
Wolfe & Sons Heating and Cooling Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In short, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you greatly until you need repairs. But as we went over earlier, refrigerant-related repairs can be more costly due to the limited amounts available.
Not to mention, your air conditioner often malfunctions at the worst time, typically on the muggiest day when we’re receiving many other appointments for AC repair.
If your air conditioner requires an outdated refrigerant or is aging, we advise upgrading to a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a stress-free summer and can even reduce your energy costs, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Wolfe & Sons Heating and Cooling offers many financing options to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 614-451-0846 to begin now with a free estimate.