You might not think much about how your air conditioner works, but it requires refrigerant to keep your house cold. This refrigerant is bound by environmental regulation, as it contains chemicals.

Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may require R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Derby, plus how these phaseouts have on influence on you.

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

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it possibly has Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner has it by contacting us at 203-772-8319. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your home. This sticker will contain info on what model of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also called R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that leads to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its manufacture and import in January 2020.

Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?

It varies. If your air conditioning is running properly, you can continue to use it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to operate 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 bills!

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it might lead to difficulties if you have to have air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be pricier, since only small amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.

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

However, Puron still has the likelihood to lead to global warming. As a consequence, it might also ultimately be ended. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated 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 rates low for global warming potential—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy consumption by around 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that may be passed on to you through your energy bills.

Giordanos Heating and Air Conditioning Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In summary, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you very much until you require repairs. But as we talked about beforehand, repairs connected to refrigerant may be more expensive since there are the low levels that are accessible.

In addition to that, your air conditioner usually stops working at the worst time, often on the warmest day when we’re experiencing a lot of other requests for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on an outdated refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we recommend getting a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a hassle-free summer and might even decrease your electrical costs, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Giordanos Heating and Air Conditioning provides many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 203-772-8319 to get started now with a free estimate.