Are Air Conditioning Refrigerants Being Phased Out?

You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner functions, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your residence cool. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental regulation, as it contains chemicals.

Based on when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may require R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Bend, as well as how these phaseouts impact you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?

If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it likely contains Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner contains it by calling us at 541-238-2797. 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 model of refrigerant your AC uses.

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

Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?

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

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it may cause an issue if you require air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be pricier, as only limited quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the end of R-22, most new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer in good shape. As it calls for 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 might also sometime be phased out. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?

In preparation of the phaseout, some manufacturers have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming possibility—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy use by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that may be forwarded on to you through your cooling bills.

Tri County Climate Control LLC Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In brief, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you very much until you require repairs. But as we went over earlier, repairs connected to refrigerant may be more costly due to the reduced levels that are accessible.

Aside from that, your air conditioner typically malfunctions at the worst time, often on the muggiest day when we’re receiving many other requests for AC repair.

If your air conditioner requires a discontinued refrigerant or is getting old, we recommend getting an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a hassle-free summer and can even reduce your cooling expenses, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Tri County Climate Control LLC provides many financing options to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 541-238-2797 to start today with a free estimate.