Which Air Conditioning Refrigerants Are Being Phased Out?

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

Based on when your air conditioner was installed, 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 Des Moines, as well as how these phaseouts impact you.

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

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it probably has Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner contains it by calling us at 515-344-3579. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your residence. This sticker will include info on what model of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also known as R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that results in global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, barred its manufacture 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 properly, you can continue to keep it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to last around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that replacing 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 a problem if you have to have air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be higher-priced, because only reduced amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.

With the phaseout of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer in good shape. As it needs an incompatible pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the likelihood to create global warming. As a consequence, it might also ultimately be phased out. 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 end, some brands 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 lowers energy consumption 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 bills.

Heartland Heating & Cooling Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In brief, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you greatly until you have to have repairs. But as we discussed previously, repairs connected to refrigerant might be pricier since there are the restricted quantities available.

Not to mention, your air conditioner often malfunctions at the worst time, typically on the muggiest day when we’re receiving a lot of other requests for AC repair.

If your air conditioner uses a discontinued refrigerant or is getting old, we advise installing an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a hassle-free summer and might even decrease your cooling costs, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Heartland Heating & Cooling provides many financing programs to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 515-344-3579 to begin today with a free estimate.