You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner operates, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your house fresh. This refrigerant is subject to environmental laws, because of the chemicals it contains.

Based 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 Bishop, plus 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 likely has Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner uses it by calling us at 760-784-9034. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your home. This sticker will include details on what kind of refrigerant your AC has.

Freon, which is also known as R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that results in global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its creation and import in January 2020.

Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?

It varies. If your air conditioning is cooling properly, you can continue to run it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling bills!

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it can create an issue if you require air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be more expensive, as only reduced quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the phaseout 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. Because it needs a varying pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the possibility to lead to global warming. Because of that, it may also ultimately be ended. 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 discontinuation, some companies have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming potential—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy expenditure by around 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be forwarded on to you through your cooling expenses.

Bishop Heating & Air Conditioning Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you very much until you require repairs. But as we talked about beforehand, repairs connected to refrigerant may be more expensive due to the restricted quantities available.

Aside from that, your air conditioner often malfunctions at the worst time, often on the muggiest day when we’re experiencing a lot of other calls for AC repair.

If your air conditioner uses a phased out refrigerant or is aging, we recommend installing an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a trouble-free summer and might even lower your utility expenses, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. 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 get started now with a free estimate.