You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner operates, but it requires refrigerant to keep your house fresh. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental laws, as 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 Payson, as well as 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 installed before 2010, it possibly contains Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner has it by calling us at 928-263-8570. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your home. This sticker will contain information on what model of refrigerant your AC has.

Freon, which is also known as R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that results in 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 differs. 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 says that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling costs!

If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it can cause an issue if you have to have air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be higher-priced, since only small amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.

With the end of R-22, many new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer healthy. Since it needs a different pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the potential to contribute to global warming. As a result, it could also ultimately be phased out. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?

In preparation of the end, some manufacturers have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming likelihood—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy use by approximately 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that could be passed on to you through your cooling costs.

North Mechanical Heating and Cooling Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you a whole lot until you have to have repairs. But as we discussed previously, refrigerant repairs might be pricier because of the low amounts on hand.

Not to mention, your air conditioner typically stops working at the worst time, typically on the hottest day when we’re experiencing lots of other requests for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on an outdated refrigerant or is aging, we advise upgrading to a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a trouble-free summer and may even decrease your utility costs, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, North Mechanical Heating and Cooling offers many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 928-263-8570 to start right away with a free estimate.