You might not think much about how your air conditioner operates, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your house fresh. This refrigerant is subject to environmental laws, 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 Kearney, as well as how these phaseouts affect you.

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

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it probably has Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner contains it by contacting us at 308-624-3485. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your home. This sticker will contain info on what model of refrigerant your AC uses.

Freon, which is also known as R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs refrigerants in the United States, barred 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 cooling as designed, you can continue to keep it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling expenses!

If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it might cause difficulties if you require air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be more expensive, since only reduced levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the discontinuation of R-22, many new air conditioners now have 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 need R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the possibility to lead to global warming. As a result, it may also eventually be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?

In preparation of the discontinuation, some manufacturers have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming potential—approximately 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 could be sent on to you through your utility bills.

Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In brief, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you very much until you have to have repairs. But as we went over previously, repairs connected to refrigerant can be pricier because of the low levels that are accessible.

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

If your air conditioner uses a phased out refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we advise upgrading to an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a stress-free summer and could even reduce your electrical expenses, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning provides many financing options to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 308-624-3485 to start right away with a free estimate.