You might not think much about how your air conditioner functions, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your house cool. This refrigerant is subject to environmental rules, as it contains chemicals.
Depending on when your air conditioner was put in, it may use R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Manassas, plus 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 possibly uses Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner uses it by calling us at 703-278-2036. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your residence. This sticker will include info on what type of refrigerant your AC needs.
Freon, which is also called R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, barred its creation and import in January 2020.
I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?
It varies. If your air conditioning is operating as designed, you can continue to use it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling costs!
If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it might lead to difficulties if you have to have air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be more expensive, because only small quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.
With the discontinuation of R-22, many new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer in good shape. Since it needs a different pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the possibility to contribute to global warming. Because of that, it might also eventually be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take the Place of R-410A?
In preparation of the phaseout, some companies have started 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 lowers energy expenditure by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be passed on to you through your cooling expenses.
Woody's Sudden Service Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In brief, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you greatly until you need repairs. But as we went over previously, repairs connected to refrigerant may be pricier due to the low amounts that are accessible.
Aside from that, your air conditioner usually stops working at the worst time, typically on the hottest day when we’re experiencing many other requests for AC repair.
If your air conditioner uses a phased out refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we advise getting a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a trouble-free summer and might even lower your utility bills, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Woody's Sudden Service offers many financing programs to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 703-278-2036 to begin today with a free estimate.