You might not think often about how your air conditioner operates, but it has to have refrigerant to keep your residence cold. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental regulation, since it contains chemicals.
Subject to when your air conditioner was put in, 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 Georgetown, 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 installed before 2010, it possibly uses Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner uses it by reaching us at 512-937-2001. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your house. This sticker will include information on what type of refrigerant your AC needs.
Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that leads to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which oversees 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 cooling properly, you can continue to use it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on annual cooling expenses!
If you keep your air conditioner, it can lead to difficulties if you have to have air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be pricier, because only limited amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.
With the discontinuation of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer healthy. Because it calls for a different pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the likelihood to contribute to global warming. As a consequence, it may also sometime be phased out. Although it hasn’t been announced yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take the Place of R-410A?
In preparation of the end, some companies have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming possibility—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy use by approximately 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that may be forwarded on to you through your electrical costs.
Miller Climate Control LLC Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In summary, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you a whole lot until you need repairs. But as we reviewed earlier, repairs connected to refrigerant might be more expensive because of the reduced quantities that are accessible.
Not to mention, your air conditioner typically stops working at the worst time, typically on the hottest day when we’re experiencing many other calls for AC repair.
If your air conditioner relies on an outdated refrigerant or is getting old, we suggest installing a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a trouble-free summer and can even reduce your energy costs, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Miller Climate Control LLC provides many financing options to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 512-937-2001 to begin right away with a free estimate.