You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner functions, but it requires refrigerant to keep your home fresh. This refrigerant is bound by environmental laws, since it contains chemicals.
Based on when your air conditioner was added to your home, 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 Hudsonville, in addition to how these phaseouts affect you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It No Longer Being Made?
If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it likely has Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner has it by contacting us at (616) 319-1436. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your house. This sticker will contain details on what model of refrigerant your AC has.
Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that leads to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, barred its production 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 operating properly, you can continue to run it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to work around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling expenses!
If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it may cause difficulties if you require air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be more expensive, because only limited levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.
With the phaseout of R-22, most new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer healthy. Since it needs a different pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the likelihood to contribute to global warming. As a result, it might also ultimately be ended. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take the Place of R-410A?
In preparation of the end, some brands have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming potential—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy consumption 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 bills.
West Michigan Heating & Air Conditioning Services Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In brief, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you greatly until you require repairs. But as we talked about beforehand, refrigerant-related repairs can be more costly because of the reduced amounts that are accessible.
In addition to that, your air conditioner usually malfunctions at the worst time, typically on the hottest day when we’re experiencing many other calls for AC repair.
If your air conditioner uses a discontinued refrigerant or is getting old, we advise upgrading to an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a trouble-free summer and may even decrease your utility expenses, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, West Michigan Heating & Air Conditioning Services has many financing options to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at (616) 319-1436 to begin right away with a free estimate.
