You might not think much about how your air conditioner operates, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your house cool. This refrigerant is bound by environmental rules, because of the chemicals it contains.
Depending on 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 Pocatello, as well as how these phaseouts have on influence on you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it possibly uses Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner uses it by reaching us at 208-621-0129. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your residence. This sticker will include info on what model of refrigerant your AC uses.
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 results in global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, barred its production and import in January 2020.
Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?
It varies. If your air conditioning is operating properly, you can continue to keep it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling costs!
If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it can lead to difficulties if you need air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be higher-priced, as only limited quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.
With the discontinuation of R-22, most new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer strong. Because it needs an incompatible pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the likelihood to lead to global warming. Because of that, it could also sometime be ended. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?
In preparation of the discontinuation, some companies have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming possibility—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy expenditure by about 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 cooling expenses.
Vogts Heating & Air Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In summary, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you greatly until you need repairs. But as we talked about beforehand, refrigerant-related repairs can be more expensive because of the restricted levels that are accessible.
In addition to that, your air conditioner often breaks down at the worst time, often on the muggiest day when we’re receiving many other appointments for AC repair.
If your air conditioner relies on a discontinued refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we advise installing a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a trouble-free summer and could even decrease your utility costs, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Vogts Heating & Air provides many financing options to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 208-621-0129 to start now with a free estimate.