Which Air Conditioning Refrigerants Are Being Phased Out?

You might not think often about how your air conditioner works, but it needs refrigerant to keep your house cold. This refrigerant is subject to environmental rules, as it contains chemicals.

Depending on 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 Shamokin and Sunbury, in addition to how these phaseouts affect you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Discontinued?

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it likely contains Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner uses it by contacting us at 570-648-0748. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your residence. This sticker will include info on what model of refrigerant your AC uses.

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

I Use an Air Conditioner with R-22. Do I Need to Get a New One?

It differs. If your air conditioning is operating fine, you can continue to use it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling costs!

If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it can lead to an issue if you have to have air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be more expensive, because only limited quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.

With the end of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer strong. Because it requires a varying pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the likelihood to create global warming. As a result, it may also eventually be discontinued. 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 phaseout, some companies have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming likelihood—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy expenditure by approximately 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that could be forwarded on to you through your utility costs.

LTS Plumbing & Heating Inc. Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In brief, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you a whole lot until you need repairs. But as we talked about beforehand, refrigerant repairs can be more costly due to the low amounts available.

In addition to that, your air conditioner frequently stops working at the worst time, often on the hottest day when we’re getting a lot of other calls for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on a discontinued refrigerant or is aging, we advise upgrading to an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a hassle-free summer and may even reduce your electrical bills, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, LTS Plumbing & Heating Inc. has many financing options to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 570-648-0748 to get started today with a free estimate.