You might not think often about how your air conditioner operates, but it needs refrigerant to keep your house cool. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental laws, since it contains chemicals.

Subject to when your air conditioner was put in, it may require R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll review the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Moline, as well as how these phaseouts have on influence on you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Discontinued?

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it probably has Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner uses it by calling us at 309-323-9584. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your house. This sticker will include info on what model of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also called R-22, includes 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 controls refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its creation and import in January 2020.

I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?

It depends. If your air conditioning is operating correctly, you can continue to keep it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling costs!

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it may cause an issue if you require air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be higher-priced, as only small levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.

With the phaseout of R-22, most new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer healthy. Since 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 possibility to create global warming. As a consequence, it might also eventually be ended. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?

In preparation of the discontinuation, some manufacturers have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming likelihood—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy consumption 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 cooling costs.

Freed Heating & Air Conditioning Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In brief, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you very much until you have to have repairs. But as we went over earlier, refrigerant repairs can be pricier since there are the low amounts available.

In addition to that, your air conditioner frequently breaks down at the worst time, often on the muggiest day when we’re getting a lot of other requests for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on a discontinued refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we recommend upgrading to an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a stress-free summer and could even decrease your cooling bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Freed Heating & Air Conditioning has many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 309-323-9584 to begin today with a free estimate.