You might not think often about how your air conditioner works, but it requires refrigerant to keep your home cold. This refrigerant is subject to environmental laws, since it contains chemicals.
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 Des Moines, in addition to how these phaseouts affect you.
What’s R-22 and Why is It Phased Out?
If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it possibly has Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner contains it by reaching us at 515-344-3579. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your house. This sticker will have information on what type of refrigerant your AC needs.
Freon, which is also known as R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that leads to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which oversees refrigerants in the United States, barred its creation and import in January 2020.
I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?
It differs. If your air conditioning is operating as designed, you can continue to keep it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on annual cooling expenses!
If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it can lead to a problem if you have to have air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be pricier, as only limited quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.
With the discontinuation of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer in good shape. Since it calls for a different pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the possibility to create global warming. As a result, it might also sometime be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been announced yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?
In preparation of the discontinuation, some brands have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming likelihood—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy expenditure by approximately 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that could be sent on to you through your electrical bills.
Heartland Heating & Cooling Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In summary, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you greatly until you require repairs. But as we went over previously, refrigerant-related repairs might be more costly because of the limited quantities available.
Not to mention, your air conditioner frequently stops working at the worst time, often on the hottest day when we’re receiving lots of other requests for AC repair.
If your air conditioner requires an outdated refrigerant or is aging, we advise getting a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a hassle-free summer and may even reduce your energy costs, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Heartland Heating & Cooling has many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 515-344-3579 to begin right away with a free estimate.