You might not think much about how your air conditioner functions, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your home cold. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental laws, because of the chemicals it contains.
Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may need R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Long Island, as well as how these phaseouts have on influence on you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It No Longer Being Made?
If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it probably has Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner contains it by calling us at 631-737-5566. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your home. This sticker will contain details on what type of refrigerant your AC uses.
Freon, which is also called R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be damaging to 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 depends. If your air conditioning is operating correctly, you can continue to use 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 yearly cooling bills!
If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it can lead to a problem if you require air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be pricier, since only reduced levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.
With the end of R-22, many new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer healthy. Because it needs a varying pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the potential to create global warming. As a result, it could also sometime be discontinued. 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 discontinuation, some brands have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming likelihood—about 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 may be forwarded on to you through your energy bills.
Airmax Long Island Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In brief, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you very much until you need repairs. But as we discussed beforehand, repairs connected to refrigerant may be more costly because of the reduced levels that are accessible.
Not to mention, your air conditioner typically malfunctions at the worst time, frequently on the warmest day when we’re receiving a lot of other requests for AC repair.
If your air conditioner requires a discontinued refrigerant or is getting old, we recommend getting a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a trouble-free summer and can even reduce your cooling bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Airmax Long Island has many financing options to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 631-737-5566 to get started right away with a free estimate.