Which Air Conditioning Refrigerants Are Being Phased Out?

You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner works, but it needs refrigerant to keep your house cool. This refrigerant is subject to environmental regulation, as it contains chemicals.

Subject to when your air conditioner was put in, 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, as well as 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 put in before 2010, it probably uses Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner uses it by reaching us at 432-237-0168. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your residence. This sticker will contain info on what type of refrigerant your AC needs.

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

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

It depends. If your air conditioning is cooling as designed, you can continue to use it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling expenses!

If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it can create difficulties if you need air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be more expensive, because only reduced amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.

With the phaseout of R-22, many new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer strong. Because it needs an incompatible pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the possibility to create global warming. As a result, it might also sometime be phased out. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?

In preparation of the end, some companies have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming likelihood—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy use 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 energy expenses.

Redhawk Heating & Air Conditioning Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you greatly until you need repairs. But as we talked about previously, refrigerant repairs may be more costly since there are the restricted levels that are accessible.

Not to mention, your air conditioner usually breaks down at the worst time, often on the muggiest day when we’re experiencing lots of other calls for AC repair.

If your air conditioner uses an outdated refrigerant or is aging, we advise installing a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a stress-free summer and might even decrease your electrical expenses, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Redhawk Heating & Air Conditioning provides many financing programs to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 432-237-0168 to get started right away with a free estimate.