How Does Air Conditioning Refrigerant Phaseout Affect Me?

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

Subject to when your air conditioner was installed, it may need R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Menomonie and western Wisconsin, plus how these phaseouts affect you.

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

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it likely uses Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner has it by reaching us at 715-352-4052. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your house. This sticker will include information on what kind of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also called R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs 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 varies. If your air conditioning is running properly, you can continue to run it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling bills!

If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it may cause a problem if you have to have air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be pricier, as only reduced amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.

With the end of R-22, many new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer healthy. Because it needs a different pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.

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

What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?

In preparation of the discontinuation, some companies have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming possibility—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy use by about 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.

Halverson Brothers Inc Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you very much until you have to have repairs. But as we talked about previously, repairs connected to refrigerant may be more expensive because of the low amounts that are accessible.

Aside from that, your air conditioner frequently malfunctions at the worst time, often on the muggiest day when we’re experiencing many other calls for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on a discontinued refrigerant or is getting old, we advise upgrading to a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a hassle-free summer and might even decrease your cooling expenses, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Halverson Brothers Inc provides many financing options to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 715-352-4052 to start right away with a free estimate.