Are Air Conditioning Refrigerants Being Phased Out?

You might not think much about how your air conditioner works, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your home cold. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental rules, since it contains chemicals.

Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, 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 Tomball, as well as how these phaseouts affect you.

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

If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it probably uses Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner uses it by reaching us at 713-364-9957. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your home. This sticker will contain info on what model of refrigerant your AC has.

Freon, which is also called R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, banned its creation and import in January 2020.

I Use an Air Conditioner with R-22. Do I Need to Get a New One?

It depends. If your air conditioning is operating fine, you can continue to use it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system 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 annual cooling expenses!

If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it can create an issue if you require air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be higher-priced, since only limited quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the phaseout of R-22, many new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer strong. As it requires 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. Because of that, it might also ultimately be discontinued. 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 brands have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming potential—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy consumption by approximately 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be forwarded on to you through your energy costs.

Premium Air Services LLC Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In summary, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you a whole lot until you require repairs. But as we discussed beforehand, repairs connected to refrigerant may be more costly due to the restricted levels on hand.

Not to mention, your air conditioner frequently malfunctions at the worst time, typically on the muggiest day when we’re getting many other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on a discontinued refrigerant or is getting old, we advise getting an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a trouble-free summer and may even reduce your electrical bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Premium Air Services LLC offers many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 713-364-9957 to get started today with a free estimate.