You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner operates, but it requires refrigerant to keep your home fresh. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental rules, as it contains chemicals.
Subject to when your air conditioner was installed, it may require R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll review the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Hasbrouck Heights, as well as how these phaseouts impact 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 uses it by contacting us at 201-579-2562. You can also check the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your house. This sticker will contain information on what type of refrigerant your AC has.
Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes 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 depends. If your air conditioning is operating properly, you can continue to run it. With regular 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 summertime cooling expenses!
If you keep your air conditioner, it might create a problem if you require air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be higher-priced, since only small quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.
With the end of R-22, many new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer strong. As it calls for a different pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the potential to contribute to global warming. As a result, it may also ultimately be ended. 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 phaseout, some brands have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming possibility—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy use by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that could be passed on to you through your energy bills.
ACE Solutions Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In short, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you greatly until you need repairs. But as we went over beforehand, refrigerant-related repairs might be pricier since there are the restricted amounts on hand.
In addition to that, your air conditioner frequently malfunctions at the worst time, frequently on the muggiest day when we’re experiencing a lot of other requests for AC repair.
If your air conditioner relies on a phased out refrigerant or is aging, we advise getting a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a hassle-free summer and might even decrease your energy costs, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, ACE Solutions provides many financing programs to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 201-579-2562 to get started now with a free estimate.