You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner operates, but it needs refrigerant to keep your residence fresh. This refrigerant is bound by environmental rules, since it contains chemicals.
Subject to when your air conditioner was installed, it may need R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll review the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Mankato area, as well as how these phaseouts impact you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It No Longer Being Made?
If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it possibly has Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner uses it by reaching us at 507-387-6596. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your residence. This sticker will contain details on what kind of refrigerant your AC has.
Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that leads to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages 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 operating correctly, you can continue to keep it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to last around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports 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 can cause an issue if you need air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be pricier, because only limited quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.
With the end of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer in good shape. As it needs a varying pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the potential to contribute to global warming. Because of that, it might also eventually be ended. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?
In preparation of the discontinuation, some brands have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming potential—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy use by approximately 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that could be forwarded on to you through your energy costs.
Northern Comfort Inc Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In brief, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you greatly until you require repairs. But as we talked about earlier, repairs connected to refrigerant can be more costly because of the low amounts on hand.
Aside from that, your air conditioner typically stops working at the worst time, often on the hottest day when we’re experiencing many other requests for AC repair.
If your air conditioner uses an outdated refrigerant or is getting old, we suggest getting a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a hassle-free summer and may even lower your utility bills, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Northern Comfort Inc has many financing options to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 507-387-6596 to get started today with a free estimate.
