You might not think much about how your air conditioner works, but it needs refrigerant to keep your home fresh. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental laws, as it contains chemicals.
Depending on when your air conditioner was installed, it may use R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll discuss the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Spokane, as well as how these phaseouts affect you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It Discontinued?
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it possibly has Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner contains it by reaching us at 509-392-8770. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your house. This sticker will include details on what model of refrigerant your AC has.
Freon, which is also known as R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs refrigerants in the United States, barred its creation and import in January 2020.
Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?
It varies. If your air conditioning is cooling fine, you can continue to run it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to last around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling expenses!
If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it can cause an issue if you have to have air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be more expensive, as only limited amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.
With the discontinuation of R-22, most new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer in good shape. Since it calls for an incompatible pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the potential to contribute to global warming. Because of that, it may also sometime be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?
In preparation of the phaseout, some manufacturers have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming possibility—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy expenditure by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that could be sent on to you through your utility costs.
Bigfoot Mechanical Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In short, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you greatly until you need repairs. But as we talked about beforehand, refrigerant repairs may be more costly because of the low levels available.
Not to mention, your air conditioner frequently stops working at the worst time, frequently on the muggiest day when we’re receiving a lot of other appointments for AC repair.
If your air conditioner relies on an outdated refrigerant or is getting old, we recommend upgrading to an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a hassle-free summer and can even decrease your electrical bills, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Bigfoot Mechanical provides many financing options to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 509-392-8770 to start today with a free estimate.
