Are Air Conditioning Refrigerants Being Phased Out?

You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner works, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your home fresh. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental regulation, because of the chemicals it contains.

Based on when your air conditioner was installed, it may require R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll review the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Rio Grande Valley, in addition to how these phaseouts have on influence on you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it possibly has Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner contains it by calling us at 956-630-3522. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your residence. This sticker will contain details on what kind of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also called R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 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, barred its production and import in January 2020.

Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?

It depends. If your air conditioning is running correctly, 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 reports that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling bills!

If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it can lead to difficulties if you need air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be higher-priced, as only limited 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 healthy. As it needs an incompatible pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the likelihood to contribute to global warming. As a result, it may also ultimately be phased out. 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 started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming likelihood—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 could be sent on to you through your utility costs.

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

In summary, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you very much until you require repairs. But as we discussed beforehand, repairs connected to refrigerant might be pricier since there are the restricted quantities available.

Not to mention, your air conditioner frequently breaks down at the worst time, frequently on the hottest day when we’re getting lots of other requests for AC repair.

If your air conditioner uses a discontinued refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we advise getting an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a trouble-free summer and may even lower your electrical bills, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Cytech Heating & Cooling L.C. provides many financing options to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 956-630-3522 to begin now with a free estimate.