You might not think much about how your air conditioner operates, but it has to have refrigerant to keep your house cold. This refrigerant is bound by environmental regulation, as it contains chemicals.
Based on when your air conditioner was put in, it may need R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll review the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in West Valley City, as well as how these phaseouts impact you.
What’s R-22 and Why is It Phased Out?
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it probably uses Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner uses it by contacting us at 801-305-4777. You can also inspect 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 has.
Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which oversees refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its manufacture and import in January 2020.
I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?
It differs. If your air conditioning is working as designed, you can continue to use it. With annual air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on annual cooling expenses!
If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it might cause difficulties if you require air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be more expensive, because only small levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.
With the phaseout of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer strong. Because it needs a varying pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the potential to lead to global warming. As a result, it could also sometime be ended. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take the Place of R-410A?
In preparation of the phaseout, some manufacturers have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming potential—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy use by approximately 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be sent on to you through your energy costs.
Select Comfort Systems Heating & Air Conditioning Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In brief, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you a whole lot until you need repairs. But as we discussed beforehand, refrigerant repairs can be more costly because of the low quantities that are accessible.
Aside from that, your air conditioner often malfunctions at the worst time, often 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 more than 15 years old, we advise getting a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a trouble-free summer and could even lower your utility costs, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Select Comfort Systems Heating & Air Conditioning has many financing programs to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 801-305-4777 to start now with a free estimate.