You might not think often about how your air conditioner functions, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your home cool. This refrigerant is subject to environmental rules, because of the chemicals it contains.
Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may require R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll discuss the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Franklin Lakes, as well as how these phaseouts have on influence on you.
What’s R-22 and Why is It Discontinued?
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it possibly uses Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner uses it by reaching us at 201-268-5663. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your residence. This sticker will contain information on what kind of refrigerant your AC needs.
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 leads to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, banned its production and import in January 2020.
Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?
It depends. If your air conditioning is running properly, you can continue to keep it. With regular 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 yearly cooling bills!
If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it could lead to difficulties if you require air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be pricier, because only small quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.
With the end of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer in good shape. Since it needs an incompatible pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the possibility to lead to global warming. Because of that, it may also sometime be phased out. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?
In preparation of the end, some manufacturers have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming likelihood—about 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 might be forwarded on to you through your energy expenses.
Total Comfort Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In brief, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you a whole lot until you have to have repairs. But as we reviewed beforehand, refrigerant-related repairs could be more expensive due to the restricted quantities that are accessible.
In addition to that, your air conditioner usually stops working at the worst time, typically on the warmest day when we’re receiving lots of other requests for AC repair.
If your air conditioner uses a phased out refrigerant or is aging, we suggest getting a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a trouble-free summer and can even reduce your utility expenses, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Total Comfort provides many financing programs to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 201-268-5663 to start right away with a free estimate.