You might not think often about how your air conditioner works, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your house fresh. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental rules, because of the chemicals it contains.

Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, 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 Cape Coral, as well as how these phaseouts impact you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it possibly uses Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner contains it by reaching us at 239-214-0411. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your residence. This sticker will have information on what kind of refrigerant your AC uses.

Freon, which is also known as R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages 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 operating as designed, you can continue to run it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system 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 summertime cooling costs!

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 might be pricier, because only small quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.

With the discontinuation of R-22, most new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer strong. Since it needs an incompatible pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the possibility to lead to global warming. As a result, it might also eventually be ended. 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 brands have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming potential—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy consumption by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be forwarded on to you through your energy costs.

Comfort Zone, LLC Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In brief, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you greatly until you need repairs. But as we went over beforehand, repairs connected to refrigerant may be more expensive because of the restricted levels that are accessible.

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

If your air conditioner relies on an outdated refrigerant or is getting old, we recommend getting a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a hassle-free summer and can even reduce your cooling expenses, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Comfort Zone, LLC offers many financing options to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 239-214-0411 to start right away with a free estimate.