You might not think often about how your air conditioner works, but it needs refrigerant to keep your home cold. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental rules, because of the chemicals it contains.
Subject to when your air conditioner was put in, it may require R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Bishop, 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 put in before 2010, it possibly uses Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner uses it by calling us at 760-784-9034. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your residence. This sticker will have info on what model of refrigerant your AC uses.
Freon, which is also known as R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs 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 correctly, you can continue to keep it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to work around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling bills!
If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it could create an issue if you have to have air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be pricier, as only reduced quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.
With the phaseout of R-22, many new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer healthy. As it calls for a varying pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the potential to create global warming. As a consequence, it may also eventually be phased out. Although it hasn’t been disclosed 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 potential—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy expenditure 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 utility bills.
Bishop Heating & Air Conditioning Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In short, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you greatly until you need repairs. But as we talked about beforehand, refrigerant repairs might be more costly because of the reduced levels on hand.
In addition to that, your air conditioner usually stops working at the worst time, typically on the warmest day when we’re getting lots of other calls for AC repair.
If your air conditioner relies on an outdated refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we advise installing a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a trouble-free summer and might even decrease your cooling expenses, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Bishop Heating & Air Conditioning offers many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 760-784-9034 to start right away with a free estimate.