You might not think often about how your air conditioner functions, but it needs refrigerant to keep your home fresh. This refrigerant is bound by environmental rules, because of the chemicals it contains.

Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may need R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Magnolia, 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 installed before 2010, it probably has Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner uses it by calling us at 281-231-8768. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your house. This sticker will contain information on what model of refrigerant your AC needs.

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

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

It differs. If your air conditioning is running fine, you can continue to use it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system 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 annual cooling bills!

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

With the discontinuation of R-22, most new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer strong. As it requires a varying pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.

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

What Refrigerant Will Take the Place of R-410A?

In preparation of the discontinuation, some brands have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming likelihood—approximately 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 may be forwarded on to you through your cooling costs.

JTech Mechanical 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 went over beforehand, refrigerant-related repairs may be pricier due to the low levels on hand.

Aside from that, your air conditioner often malfunctions at the worst time, typically on the hottest day when we’re getting a lot of other calls for AC repair.

If your air conditioner requires a discontinued refrigerant or is aging, we suggest getting a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a hassle-free summer and may even decrease your cooling bills, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, JTech Mechanical provides many financing programs to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 281-231-8768 to begin today with a free estimate.