Are Air Conditioning Refrigerants Being Phased Out?

You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner works, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your residence cold. This refrigerant is bound by environmental regulation, as it contains chemicals.

Based on when your air conditioner was put in, it may require R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Santa Clarita, 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 added before 2010, it possibly uses Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner has it by contacting us at 818-306-3387. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your residence. This sticker will include details on what type of refrigerant your AC has.

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

Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?

It differs. If your air conditioning is cooling correctly, you can continue to keep it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC 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 annual cooling bills!

If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it can create an issue if you require air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be higher-priced, because only limited levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the phaseout of R-22, many new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer healthy. Because it needs a varying pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the potential to lead to global warming. As a consequence, it could also eventually be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take the Place of R-410A?

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

Verona HVAC Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you greatly until you need repairs. But as we discussed earlier, repairs connected to refrigerant can be more costly since there are the restricted levels on hand.

Not to mention, your air conditioner typically stops working at the worst time, typically on the muggiest day when we’re getting a lot of other calls for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on a phased out refrigerant or is aging, we suggest upgrading to a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a hassle-free summer and can even lower your electrical bills, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Verona HVAC provides many financing programs to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 818-306-3387 to start right away with a free estimate.