You might not think often about how your air conditioner functions, but it needs refrigerant to keep your house cold. This refrigerant is bound by environmental laws, because of the chemicals it contains.

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

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

If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it probably contains Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner contains it by reaching us at 303-452-4146. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your home. This sticker will have information on what kind of refrigerant your AC has.

Freon, which is also known as R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be damaging to 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 Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?

It depends. If your air conditioning is running properly, you can continue to use it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on annual cooling costs!

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it may cause an issue if you have to have air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be pricier, as only reduced amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the end of R-22, most new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer in good shape. Because it needs an incompatible pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

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

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

In preparation of the phaseout, some brands 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 around 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that may be sent on to you through your utility expenses.

Northglenn Heating & Air Conditioning Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you a whole lot until you have to have repairs. But as we talked about earlier, refrigerant-related repairs may be more expensive because of the low quantities available.

Aside from that, your air conditioner often breaks down at the worst time, often on the muggiest day when we’re getting lots of other requests for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on a discontinued refrigerant or is getting old, we advise getting a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a stress-free summer and can even reduce your electrical costs, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Northglenn Heating & Air Conditioning offers many financing options to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 303-452-4146 to begin right away with a free estimate.