Which Air Conditioning Refrigerants Are Being Phased Out?

You might not think much about how your air conditioner works, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your home cold. This refrigerant is subject to environmental laws, as it contains chemicals.

Based 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 Rio Grande Valley, 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 put in before 2010, it likely uses Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner has it by contacting us at 956-553-3265. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your home. This sticker will include details on what type of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also called R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, barred its manufacture and import in January 2020.

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

It varies. If your air conditioning is cooling fine, you can continue to use it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on annual cooling costs!

If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it may cause an issue if you require air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be higher-priced, because only reduced levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the discontinuation of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer in good shape. Since it needs a different pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the potential to contribute to global warming. As a result, it may also sometime be phased out. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?

In preparation of the end, some brands 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 expenditure by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that could be passed on to you through your energy expenses.

Cytech Heating & Cooling L.C. Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In brief, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you greatly until you have to have repairs. But as we talked about earlier, repairs connected to refrigerant might be more expensive due to the reduced levels that are accessible.

Not to mention, your air conditioner typically breaks down at the worst time, often on the warmest day when we’re experiencing lots of other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on a discontinued refrigerant or is getting old, we recommend installing a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a stress-free summer and could even lower your electrical costs, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Cytech Heating & Cooling L.C. offers many financing programs to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 956-553-3265 to begin today with a free estimate.