You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner operates, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your house cold. This refrigerant is subject to environmental rules, as it contains chemicals.

Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may need R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll discuss the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Columbia, as well as how these phaseouts have on influence on you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it possibly contains Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner contains it by calling us at 601-736-7362. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your residence. This sticker will include information on what model of refrigerant your AC has.

Freon, which is also called R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that leads to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, barred its creation and import in January 2020.

Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?

It varies. If your air conditioning is running as designed, you can continue to keep it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to work around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling expenses!

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it can cause a problem if you require air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be higher-priced, as only limited levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the end of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was made 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 likelihood to contribute to global warming. As a consequence, it might also sometime be phased out. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.

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

In preparation of the phaseout, some manufacturers have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming possibility—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy consumption by approximately 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that may be passed on to you through your utility expenses.

Watts Electric & AC Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In summary, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you greatly until you have to have repairs. But as we went over previously, refrigerant-related repairs may be more costly because of the restricted levels that are accessible.

Aside from that, your air conditioner frequently stops working at the worst time, typically on the muggiest day when we’re experiencing many other requests for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on an outdated refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we advise upgrading to a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a trouble-free summer and might even lower your utility bills, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Watts Electric & AC offers many financing options to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 601-736-7362 to get started now with a free estimate.