You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner works, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your residence fresh. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental laws, because of the chemicals it contains.
Subject to when your air conditioner was installed, 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 Chelan and Wenatchee, 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 added before 2010, it possibly has Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner uses it by calling us at 509-284-4265. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your residence. This sticker will contain details on what kind of refrigerant your AC needs.
Freon, which is also called 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, outlawed 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 running correctly, you can continue to run it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling costs!
If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it can create difficulties if you need air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be more expensive, as only small amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.
With the discontinuation of R-22, most new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer strong. Because it needs a varying pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the potential to lead to global warming. As a result, it may also ultimately be phased out. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?
In preparation of the end, some brands have started 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 decreases energy consumption by approximately 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be passed on to you through your utility expenses.
Lakeside Heating & Air Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In short, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you very much until you have to have repairs. But as we went over beforehand, repairs connected to refrigerant might be pricier since there are the low amounts available.
In addition to that, your air conditioner often malfunctions at the worst time, often on the hottest day when we’re experiencing a lot of other calls for AC repair.
If your air conditioner requires a phased out refrigerant or is getting old, we advise upgrading to a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a trouble-free summer and might even lower your electrical costs, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Lakeside Heating & Air has many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 509-284-4265 to begin right away with a free estimate.
