Are Air Conditioning Refrigerants Being Phased Out?

You might not think much about how your air conditioner works, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your house fresh. This refrigerant is subject to environmental regulation, because of the chemicals it contains.

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

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

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it likely contains Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner contains it by calling us at 713-364-9957. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your residence. This sticker will have information on what type of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also known as R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages 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 varies. If your air conditioning is operating fine, you can continue to run it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to work around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling bills!

If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it may cause difficulties if you require air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be more expensive, since only small quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.

With the phaseout of R-22, many new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer in good shape. Since it needs a different pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the potential to create global warming. Because of that, it might also sometime be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?

In preparation of the discontinuation, some brands have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming likelihood—around 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 may be passed on to you through your utility bills.

Premium Air Services LLC Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you a whole lot until you need repairs. But as we discussed beforehand, refrigerant repairs may be more expensive since there are the low quantities on hand.

Aside from that, your air conditioner often stops working at the worst time, typically on the hottest day when we’re experiencing lots of other calls for AC repair.

If your air conditioner requires a phased out refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we suggest upgrading to an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a hassle-free summer and might even decrease your cooling expenses, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Premium Air Services LLC provides many financing options to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 713-364-9957 to get started now with a free estimate.