You might not think often about how your air conditioner functions, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your residence cold. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental regulation, since it contains chemicals.

Subject to when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may use R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll review the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Lafayette, in addition to how these phaseouts impact you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?

If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it possibly contains Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner contains it by calling us at (337) 234-2345. 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 model of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also known as R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to 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 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 reports that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling expenses!

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it can cause a problem if you need air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be pricier, since only reduced quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.

With the phaseout of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer healthy. Because it calls for a different pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.

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

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

In preparation of the discontinuation, some brands have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming likelihood—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy use 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.

AC Sales Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you greatly until you require repairs. But as we discussed previously, refrigerant-related repairs might be more expensive due to the restricted quantities that are accessible.

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

If your air conditioner requires a discontinued refrigerant or is aging, we suggest installing a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a hassle-free summer and may even reduce your cooling costs, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, AC Sales offers many financing programs to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at (337) 234-2345 to get started today with a free estimate.