Are Air Conditioning Refrigerants Being Phased Out?

You might not think much about how your air conditioner works, but it needs refrigerant to keep your residence fresh. This refrigerant is subject to environmental laws, since it contains chemicals.

Subject to when your air conditioner was installed, it may use R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Cedar Rapids, in addition to how these phaseouts affect you.

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

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it likely has Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner contains it by calling us at 319-208-2351. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your residence. This sticker will have info on what kind of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also known as R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that leads to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, barred its manufacture and import in January 2020.

Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?

It depends. If your air conditioning is cooling fine, you can continue to use it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling bills!

If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it may create a problem if you need air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be higher-priced, as only reduced quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.

With the phaseout of R-22, most new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer strong. Because it requires a varying pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the possibility to lead to global warming. As a consequence, it may also ultimately be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected 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 rates low for global warming potential—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy expenditure by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that may be sent on to you through your cooling expenses.

Ilten's Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In summary, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you greatly until you require repairs. But as we went over beforehand, repairs connected to refrigerant may be more costly since there are the restricted amounts on hand.

Aside from that, your air conditioner usually stops working at the worst time, typically on the hottest day when we’re getting many other requests for AC repair.

If your air conditioner uses an outdated refrigerant or is aging, we suggest getting an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a hassle-free summer and could even decrease your utility bills, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Ilten's offers many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 319-208-2351 to start now with a free estimate.