How Does Air Conditioning Refrigerant Phaseout Affect Me?

You might not think much about how your air conditioner operates, but it requires refrigerant to keep your residence fresh. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental rules, as it contains chemicals.

Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, 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 Wisconsin Rapids, as well as how these phaseouts affect you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Discontinued?

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it likely has Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner has it by calling us at 715-301-0256. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your house. This sticker will include info on what kind of refrigerant your AC has.

Freon, which is also called R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, banned its manufacture 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 cooling properly, you can continue to keep it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to work around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that substituting 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 lead to a problem if you need air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be pricier, because only reduced quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.

With the discontinuation of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer strong. Since it needs an incompatible pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the possibility to contribute to global warming. As a result, it might also ultimately be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?

In preparation of the end, some companies have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming potential—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy expenditure by around 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that may be passed on to you through your cooling expenses.

Rapids Sheet Metal Works Inc Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In brief, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you very much until you have to have repairs. But as we went over earlier, repairs connected to refrigerant may be more costly since there are the restricted quantities on hand.

Not to mention, your air conditioner often malfunctions at the worst time, often on the muggiest day when we’re receiving a lot of other requests for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on an outdated refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we advise upgrading to an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a trouble-free summer and might even reduce your cooling expenses, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Rapids Sheet Metal Works Inc has many financing programs to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 715-301-0256 to start now with a free estimate.