Are Air Conditioning Refrigerants Being Phased Out?

You might not think often about how your air conditioner functions, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your residence cool. This refrigerant is subject to environmental regulation, as it contains chemicals.

Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, 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 Fort Lauderdale, in addition to how these phaseouts have on influence on you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it possibly uses Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner has it by reaching us at 954-320-7398. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your house. This sticker will contain details on what kind of refrigerant your AC uses.

Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that results in global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, banned its creation and import in January 2020.

Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?

It differs. If your air conditioning is operating fine, you can continue to keep it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling costs!

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it can lead to an issue if you have to have air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be more expensive, since only small amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.

With the end of R-22, many new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer strong. Because it needs an incompatible pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the possibility to lead to global warming. As a consequence, it may also sometime be phased out. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?

In preparation of the phaseout, some brands have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming possibility—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy expenditure by around 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.

Solar Air Inc. Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In summary, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you greatly until you have to have repairs. But as we went over beforehand, refrigerant repairs may be more expensive due to the low levels that are accessible.

Aside from that, your air conditioner often malfunctions at the worst time, frequently on the hottest day when we’re experiencing many other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner requires a discontinued refrigerant or is aging, we suggest upgrading to an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a hassle-free summer and could even decrease your cooling costs, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Solar Air Inc. has many financing programs to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 954-320-7398 to get started now with a free estimate.