You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner functions, but it requires refrigerant to keep your home fresh. This refrigerant is bound by environmental regulation, as it contains chemicals.
Subject to when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may need R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll discuss 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 Discontinued?
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it possibly has Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner uses it by contacting 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 information on what type of refrigerant your AC needs.
Freon, which is also known as R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, banned its creation and import in January 2020.
I Use an Air Conditioner with R-22. Do I Need to Get a New One?
It depends. If your air conditioning is running properly, you can continue to use it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling costs!
If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it may create difficulties if you have to have air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be higher-priced, since only small levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.
With the phaseout of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer healthy. Because it calls for a different pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the potential to contribute to global warming. Because of that, it may also sometime be ended. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take the Place of 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 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 might be sent on to you through your energy bills.
Tru Air Systems LLC Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In brief, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you very much until you need repairs. But as we went over earlier, repairs connected to refrigerant might be more expensive due to the restricted amounts available.
Not to mention, your air conditioner typically breaks down at the worst time, typically on the warmest day when we’re experiencing a lot of other calls for AC repair.
If your air conditioner requires a discontinued refrigerant or is aging, we suggest upgrading to a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a trouble-free summer and may even reduce your utility expenses, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Tru Air Systems LLC provides many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 505-226-3525 to start right away with a free estimate.