Which Air Conditioning Refrigerants Are Being Phased Out?

You might not think often about how your air conditioner works, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your residence cold. This refrigerant is subject to environmental regulation, because of the chemicals it contains.

Based on when your air conditioner was put in, 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 Auburn, in addition to how these phaseouts impact you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it probably uses Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner contains it by calling us at 530-885-8081. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your residence. This sticker will contain details on what model of refrigerant your AC uses.

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

I Use an Air Conditioner with R-22. Do I Need to Get a New One?

It differs. If your air conditioning is operating properly, you can continue to use it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on annual cooling costs!

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it can cause a problem if you need air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be pricier, since only limited amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.

With the discontinuation of R-22, many new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer in good shape. Since it requires an incompatible pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the likelihood to lead to global warming. As a result, it could also eventually be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.

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

In preparation of the end, some companies have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming likelihood—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy expenditure 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 costs.

Forster Heating Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In summary, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you a whole lot until you need repairs. But as we discussed earlier, repairs connected to refrigerant can be more costly because of the restricted quantities that are accessible.

Not to mention, your air conditioner frequently breaks down at the worst time, often on the muggiest day when we’re receiving lots of other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner requires an outdated refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we advise upgrading to an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a trouble-free summer and may even lower your cooling expenses, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Forster Heating offers many financing options to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 530-885-8081 to get started now with a free estimate.