You might not think often about how your air conditioner functions, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your home cool. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental laws, since it contains chemicals.
Subject to 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 Wausau, in addition to 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 installed before 2010, it possibly uses Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner contains it by calling us at 715-301-0727. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your residence. This sticker will include details on what kind of refrigerant your AC has.
Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its production and import in January 2020.
I Use an Air Conditioner with R-22. Do I Need to Get a New One?
It depends. If your air conditioning is cooling fine, you can continue to use it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling expenses!
If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it might cause difficulties if you require air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be more expensive, as only limited amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.
With the phaseout of R-22, most new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer strong. Because it calls for a varying pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the likelihood to create global warming. As a consequence, it could also sometime be phased out. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?
In preparation of the phaseout, some brands have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming likelihood—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy use by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be sent on to you through your energy expenses.
Gilray Heating and Cooling Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In summary, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you a whole lot until you need repairs. But as we discussed earlier, repairs connected to refrigerant may be more costly because of the reduced levels that are accessible.
In addition to that, your air conditioner frequently malfunctions at the worst time, typically on the hottest day when we’re receiving many other calls for AC repair.
If your air conditioner requires a phased out refrigerant or is aging, we suggest getting a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a trouble-free summer and might even lower your utility costs, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Gilray Heating and Cooling provides many financing programs to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 715-301-0727 to begin right away with a free estimate.