You might not think much about how your air conditioner operates, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your house fresh. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental laws, because of the chemicals it contains.
Subject to 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, 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 likely contains Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner has it by calling us at 209-257-3156. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your home. This sticker will include info on what type of refrigerant your AC needs.
Freon, which is also called R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its manufacture and import in January 2020.
Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?
It differs. If your air conditioning is cooling correctly, you can continue to run it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on annual cooling expenses!
If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it may create an issue if you have to have air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be more expensive, since only limited levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.
With the discontinuation of R-22, most new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer healthy. As it needs an incompatible pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the potential to lead to global warming. Because of that, it may also ultimately be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?
In preparation of the discontinuation, some companies have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming likelihood—approximately 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 may be forwarded on to you through your cooling bills.
Tokay Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In short, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you greatly until you require repairs. But as we talked about previously, refrigerant-related repairs may be more expensive due to the low levels that are accessible.
Not to mention, your air conditioner typically breaks down at the worst time, often on the hottest day when we’re getting lots of other requests for AC repair.
If your air conditioner uses a phased out refrigerant or is aging, we advise upgrading to an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a stress-free summer and could even reduce your utility bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Tokay provides many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 209-257-3156 to get started right away with a free estimate.