You might not think often about how your air conditioner operates, but it requires refrigerant to keep your house cold. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental regulation, as 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 discuss the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Boynton Beach, plus how these phaseouts impact you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?
If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it probably uses Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner has it by calling us at 561-270-6228. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your house. This sticker will contain details on what model of refrigerant your AC has.
Freon, which is also known as R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that results in global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its creation and import in January 2020.
Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?
It differs. If your air conditioning is running properly, you can continue to run it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on annual cooling costs!
If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it might cause difficulties if you need air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be higher-priced, as only limited amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.
With the end of R-22, most new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer in good shape. Because it requires an incompatible pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the possibility to lead to global warming. Because of that, it might also ultimately be phased out. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?
In preparation of the end, 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 expenditure by about 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 utility costs.
A2Z Air Inc Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In short, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you greatly until you have to have repairs. But as we went over earlier, repairs connected to refrigerant can be more costly since there are the low levels on hand.
Aside from that, your air conditioner often stops working at the worst time, often on the warmest day when we’re receiving a lot of other appointments for AC repair.
If your air conditioner relies on a discontinued refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we advise getting an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a hassle-free summer and could even reduce your cooling bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, A2Z Air Inc has many financing options to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 561-270-6228 to begin right away with a free estimate.
