Are Air Conditioning Refrigerants Being Phased Out?

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

Based on when your air conditioner was installed, 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 Cedar Rapids, as well as how these phaseouts have on influence on you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It No Longer Being Made?

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it probably uses Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner has it by contacting us at 319-208-2351. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your house. This sticker will contain info on what type of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also called R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that leads to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, banned 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 properly, you can continue to run it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to last around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on annual cooling expenses!

If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it can create an issue if you have to have air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be more expensive, because only reduced levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the end 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. As it calls for a different pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

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

What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?

In preparation of the discontinuation, some companies have started 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 lowers 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 utility bills.

Ilten's Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you greatly until you need repairs. But as we talked about earlier, refrigerant repairs might be pricier due to the restricted quantities on hand.

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

If your air conditioner relies on a discontinued refrigerant or is aging, we advise upgrading to a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a hassle-free summer and can even decrease your cooling costs, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Ilten's offers many financing programs to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 319-208-2351 to start today with a free estimate.