You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner functions, but it requires refrigerant to keep your home cold. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental laws, since it contains chemicals.

Based 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 Marshfield, 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 probably has Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner has it by reaching us at 715-384-3163. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your residence. This sticker will include information on what type of refrigerant your AC uses.

Freon, which is also called R-22, includes 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 governs refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its production and import in January 2020.

I Use an Air Conditioner with R-22. Do I Need to Get a New One?

It depends. If your air conditioning is cooling properly, you can continue to run it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to last around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling expenses!

If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it may cause an issue if you have to have air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be more expensive, because only reduced amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.

With the end of R-22, many new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer strong. As it needs 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 ultimately be ended. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take the Place of R-410A?

In preparation of the end, some manufacturers have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming potential—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy consumption by around 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 cooling expenses.

House of Heating Incorporated Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you very much until you need repairs. But as we talked about earlier, repairs connected to refrigerant can be pricier because of the low amounts on hand.

Not to mention, your air conditioner usually stops working at the worst time, frequently on the warmest day when we’re getting lots of other calls for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on a discontinued refrigerant or is getting old, we suggest installing an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a hassle-free summer and can even lower your electrical costs, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, House of Heating Incorporated offers many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 715-384-3163 to start now with a free estimate.