How Does Air Conditioning Refrigerant Phaseout Affect Me?

You might not think much about how your air conditioner works, but it needs refrigerant to keep your residence fresh. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental regulation, since it contains chemicals.

Subject to when your air conditioner was installed, it may use R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Moline, in addition to how these phaseouts impact you.

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

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it probably contains Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner contains it by calling us at 309-517-7511. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your residence. This sticker will contain info on what model of refrigerant your AC uses.

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

I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?

It differs. If your air conditioning is cooling as designed, you can continue to run it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to last around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling bills!

If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it might create a problem if you need air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be more expensive, because only reduced quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the end of R-22, most new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer healthy. Since 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. As a consequence, it might also sometime be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?

In preparation of the phaseout, 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 decreases energy consumption by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be forwarded on to you through your energy costs.

J.L. Brady Company LLC Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In summary, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you greatly until you need repairs. But as we talked about previously, refrigerant repairs might be pricier because of the reduced amounts on hand.

Not to mention, your air conditioner typically stops working at the worst time, typically on the warmest day when we’re receiving lots of other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner requires a discontinued refrigerant or is aging, we advise getting an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a stress-free summer and could even lower your cooling bills, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, J.L. Brady Company LLC has many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 309-517-7511 to start right away with a free estimate.