You might not think often about how your air conditioner works, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your home cold. 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 review the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Boynton Beach, as well as how these phaseouts affect you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It No Longer Being Made?

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it possibly contains Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner has it by reaching us at 561-270-6228. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your house. This sticker will have information on what model of refrigerant your AC has.

Freon, which is also called R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, barred its manufacture 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 run it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning 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 expenses!

If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it might lead to a problem if you need air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be higher-priced, because only reduced levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the discontinuation of R-22, most new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer in good shape. Because it requires a different pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the potential to lead to global warming. Because of that, it may also ultimately be phased out. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take the Place of R-410A?

In preparation of the end, some manufacturers have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming potential—around 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 may be sent on to you through your energy bills.

A2Z Air Inc Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you very much until you need repairs. But as we went over earlier, refrigerant repairs can be pricier due to the reduced quantities that are accessible.

In addition to that, your air conditioner typically stops working at the worst time, often on the hottest day when we’re receiving a lot of other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on an outdated refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we advise installing an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a hassle-free summer and can even decrease your cooling bills, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, A2Z Air Inc has many financing options to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 561-270-6228 to start right away with a free estimate.