You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner operates, but it requires refrigerant to keep your residence cool. This refrigerant is subject to environmental rules, since it contains chemicals.
Depending on when your air conditioner was put in, it may require R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll review the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Tomball, plus how these phaseouts have on influence on you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?
If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it possibly uses Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner contains it by calling us at 713-364-9957. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your home. This sticker will have details on what kind of refrigerant your AC uses.
Freon, which is also called R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that results in global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its production and import in January 2020.
I Use an Air Conditioner with R-22. Do I Need to Get a New One?
It differs. If your air conditioning is operating properly, you can continue to keep it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling costs!
If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it may create an issue if you require air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be higher-priced, since only limited amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.
With the end of R-22, many new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer healthy. As it needs a varying pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the possibility to contribute to global warming. Because of that, it could also ultimately be phased out. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?
In preparation of the end, some brands have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming likelihood—about 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 may be passed on to you through your utility costs.
Premium Air Services LLC Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In short, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you a whole lot until you require repairs. But as we discussed beforehand, refrigerant-related repairs can be pricier due to the low quantities on hand.
Aside from that, your air conditioner typically stops working at the worst time, typically on the warmest day when we’re experiencing lots of other requests for AC repair.
If your air conditioner requires a discontinued refrigerant or is aging, we advise getting a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a hassle-free summer and may even decrease your cooling expenses, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Premium Air Services LLC offers many financing programs to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 713-364-9957 to get started right away with a free estimate.