Which Air Conditioning Refrigerants Are Being Phased Out?

You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner operates, but it requires refrigerant to keep your house fresh. This refrigerant is subject to environmental rules, as it contains chemicals.

Based on when your air conditioner was installed, 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 McKinney and Frisco, as well as how these phaseouts impact you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It No Longer Being Made?

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it possibly uses Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner has it by contacting us at 888-863-0560. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your residence. This sticker will have information on what kind of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also known as R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that leads to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, barred its production 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 running as designed, you can continue to use it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to last 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 might lead to difficulties if you have to have air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be more expensive, as only small quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.

With the end of R-22, many new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer strong. Because it calls for an incompatible pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the possibility to lead to global warming. As a consequence, 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 Replace 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—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy use by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that could be forwarded on to you through your energy bills.

Bell Mechanical Services Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In summary, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you a whole lot until you have to have repairs. But as we talked about previously, refrigerant-related repairs can be more expensive due to the low levels that are accessible.

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

If your air conditioner relies on a phased out refrigerant or is aging, we suggest installing a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a trouble-free summer and may even reduce your electrical expenses, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Bell Mechanical Services provides many financing programs to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 888-863-0560 to get started today with a free estimate.