Are Air Conditioning Refrigerants Being Phased Out?

You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner works, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your residence fresh. This refrigerant is bound by environmental rules, as it contains chemicals.

Depending on when your air conditioner was installed, 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 Lodi, as well as how these phaseouts impact you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Discontinued?

If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it probably contains Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner uses it by reaching us at 209-257-3156. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your home. This sticker will have info on what kind of refrigerant your AC uses.

Freon, which is also known as R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, barred its production and import in January 2020.

I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?

It depends. If your air conditioning is running correctly, you can continue to run it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to last around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling expenses!

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it can create an issue if you have to have air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be higher-priced, since only limited levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.

With the end 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 needs a different pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the possibility to contribute to global warming. As a result, it may also ultimately be ended. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?

In preparation of the phaseout, some companies have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming likelihood—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy use by around 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that could be passed on to you through your energy costs.

Tokay Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In brief, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you very much until you require repairs. But as we discussed beforehand, repairs connected to refrigerant might be more costly due to the reduced amounts on hand.

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

If your air conditioner relies on a discontinued refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we recommend upgrading to a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a trouble-free summer and might even decrease your cooling bills, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Tokay has many financing programs to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 209-257-3156 to start today with a free estimate.