You might not think much about how your air conditioner functions, but it needs refrigerant to keep your home cold. This refrigerant is subject to environmental regulation, since 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 discuss the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in West Valley City, in addition to 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 likely has Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner contains it by calling 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 have info on what model of refrigerant your AC has.
Freon, which is also called R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical 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, banned its manufacture and import in January 2020.
I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?
It depends. If your air conditioning is running correctly, you can continue to run it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to run 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 bills!
If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it may create an issue if you need air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be pricier, since only reduced levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.
With the end of R-22, most new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer strong. Because it calls for an incompatible pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the likelihood to contribute to global warming. As a result, it might also ultimately be phased out. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?
In preparation of the end, some companies have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming potential—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy expenditure by around 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be passed on to you through your energy bills.
Select Comfort Systems Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In short, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you a whole lot until you require repairs. But as we talked about beforehand, refrigerant-related repairs might be more expensive since there are the reduced levels available.
Aside from that, your air conditioner often malfunctions at the worst time, typically on the muggiest day when we’re experiencing many other appointments for AC repair.
If your air conditioner requires an outdated refrigerant or is getting old, we advise upgrading to a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a stress-free summer and may even reduce your electrical costs, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Select Comfort Systems has many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 801-305-4777 to get started today with a free estimate.
