You might not think much about how your air conditioner works, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your home cool. This refrigerant is bound by environmental regulation, since it contains chemicals.

Subject to when your air conditioner was put in, it may need R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Albuquerque, in addition to how these phaseouts impact you.

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

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it possibly uses Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner contains it by calling us at 505-226-3525. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your home. This sticker will contain info 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 bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that results in global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its production and import in January 2020.

Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?

It depends. If your air conditioning is cooling correctly, you can continue to use it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to last 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 install a new air conditioner, it can create difficulties if you require air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be more expensive, as only reduced quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.

With the phaseout of R-22, most new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer healthy. As it needs a varying pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the likelihood to create global warming. As a consequence, it could 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 companies have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming likelihood—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy expenditure by around 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be forwarded on to you through your cooling expenses.

Tru Air Systems LLC Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In summary, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you a whole lot until you have to have repairs. But as we talked about previously, repairs connected to refrigerant can be more expensive due to the low quantities that are accessible.

Not to mention, your air conditioner frequently malfunctions at the worst time, frequently on the hottest day when we’re experiencing many other calls for AC repair.

If your air conditioner requires a discontinued refrigerant or is aging, we suggest installing a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a stress-free summer and can even lower your utility expenses, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Tru Air Systems LLC offers many financing programs to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 505-226-3525 to begin today with a free estimate.