You might not think often about how your air conditioner functions, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your house cold. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental laws, because of the chemicals it contains.

Depending on when your air conditioner was installed, it may need R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll discuss the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Odessa, in addition to how these phaseouts have on influence on you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It No Longer Being Made?

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it probably contains Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner contains it by contacting us at 432-237-0168. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your residence. This sticker will contain details on what type of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also referred to 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 manages refrigerants in the United States, banned its manufacture and import in January 2020.

I Use an Air Conditioner with R-22. Do I Need to Get a New One?

It differs. If your air conditioning is cooling correctly, 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 notes that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling costs!

If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it may cause difficulties if you require air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be more expensive, because only limited levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.

With the end of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer in good shape. Because it needs an incompatible pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the likelihood to contribute to global warming. As a result, it might also eventually be ended. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?

In preparation of the phaseout, some companies have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming likelihood—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy expenditure by around 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 expenses.

Redhawk Heating & Air Conditioning Can Assist 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 earlier, refrigerant repairs may be pricier because of the restricted amounts that are accessible.

Aside from that, your air conditioner usually malfunctions at the worst time, frequently on the hottest day when we’re experiencing a lot of other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on an outdated refrigerant or is getting old, we suggest upgrading to an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a trouble-free summer and can even decrease your utility bills, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Redhawk Heating & Air Conditioning offers many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 432-237-0168 to get started right away with a free estimate.