You might not think often about how your air conditioner works, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your home fresh. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental laws, as it contains chemicals.

Based on when your air conditioner was put in, it may require R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Oxford, 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 put in before 2010, it possibly uses Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner contains it by calling us at 662-281-1231. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your house. This sticker will contain info on what model of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also known as R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its manufacture and import in January 2020.

Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?

It varies. If your air conditioning is cooling correctly, you can continue to keep it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes 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 may cause difficulties if you need air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be higher-priced, because only small levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

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

However, Puron still has the likelihood to create global warming. Because of that, it might also eventually be ended. Although it hasn’t been disclosed 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 initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming possibility—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy expenditure by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be forwarded on to you through your utility costs.

Franklin's Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In brief, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you a whole lot until you need repairs. But as we talked about previously, refrigerant repairs might be pricier since there are the reduced quantities on hand.

In addition to that, your air conditioner usually malfunctions at the worst time, frequently on the hottest day when we’re getting many other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner requires an outdated refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we suggest installing an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a trouble-free summer and might even lower your electrical costs, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Franklin's Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc has many financing programs to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 662-281-1231 to start today with a free estimate.