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 cold. This refrigerant is subject to environmental rules, as it contains chemicals.

Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, 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 Port St. Lucie, as well as how these phaseouts affect you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It No Longer Being Made?

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it possibly has Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner contains it by contacting us at 772-247-2283. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your house. This sticker will include details on what model of refrigerant your AC has.

Freon, which is also called R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that results in global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs 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 depends. If your air conditioning is running fine, you can continue to keep it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling bills!

If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it can create a problem if you require 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 phaseout 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 strong. Because it calls for an incompatible pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the potential to create global warming. As a consequence, it might also eventually be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?

In preparation of the discontinuation, some brands have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming potential—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 may be forwarded on to you through your utility expenses.

Custom Air Systems Inc Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In summary, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you greatly until you require repairs. But as we went over previously, refrigerant-related repairs can be more expensive due to the restricted quantities on hand.

Aside from that, your air conditioner typically breaks down at the worst time, frequently on the hottest day when we’re getting many other calls for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on an outdated refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we suggest installing a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a trouble-free summer and could even lower your utility bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Custom Air Systems Inc offers many financing programs to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 772-247-2283 to begin right away with a free estimate.