You might not think much about how your air conditioner functions, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your residence cool. This refrigerant is subject to environmental rules, because of the chemicals it contains.

Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may use R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll review the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Dresden, 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 contains Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner uses it by reaching us at 519-683-2339. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your residence. This sticker will include details on what type of refrigerant your AC has.

Freon, which is also called R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages 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 varies. 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 says that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling expenses!

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it can cause an issue if you need air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be more expensive, because only reduced levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the discontinuation of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer strong. Since 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 likelihood to lead to global warming. As a result, it might also sometime be ended. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.

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

In preparation of the discontinuation, some manufacturers have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming potential—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy use by around 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 utility costs.

McFadden Heating & Cooling Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In brief, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you very much until you require repairs. But as we talked about previously, repairs connected to refrigerant can be more costly because of the restricted levels that are accessible.

In addition to that, your air conditioner frequently stops working at the worst time, often on the warmest day when we’re receiving lots of other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner uses a discontinued refrigerant or is getting old, we advise installing a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a stress-free summer and can even lower your electrical bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, McFadden Heating & Cooling offers many financing programs to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 519-683-2339 to start now with a free estimate.