You might not think often about how your air conditioner operates, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your home fresh. This refrigerant is subject to environmental laws, since 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 discuss the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Naples, 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 put in before 2010, it likely has Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner contains it by reaching us at 239-244-3439. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your house. This sticker will have details on what model of refrigerant your AC has.
Freon, which is also known as R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 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, barred its creation and import in January 2020.
Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?
It differs. If your air conditioning is operating as designed, you can continue to keep it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to last around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on annual cooling bills!
If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it can cause a problem if you have to have air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be pricier, because only reduced amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.
With the discontinuation of R-22, many new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer healthy. Because it requires an incompatible pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the potential to create global warming. As a result, it might also ultimately be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?
In preparation of the end, some companies have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming possibility—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy use by approximately 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 costs.
Speedy Air Conditioning Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In brief, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you very much until you need repairs. But as we discussed beforehand, refrigerant-related repairs can be more costly since there are the reduced levels on hand.
Aside from that, your air conditioner frequently malfunctions at the worst time, typically on the warmest day when we’re receiving many other requests for AC repair.
If your air conditioner requires an outdated refrigerant or is aging, we advise upgrading to an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a stress-free summer and could even lower your electrical costs, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Speedy Air Conditioning has many financing programs to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 239-244-3439 to get started today with a free estimate.
