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

Based on when your air conditioner was installed, it may use R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll discuss the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Lafayette, 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 likely has Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner has it by contacting us at (337) 234-2345. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your residence. This sticker will include details on what kind of refrigerant your AC uses.

Freon, which is also known as R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, banned 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 running as designed, you can continue to keep it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on annual cooling bills!

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it may cause difficulties if you need air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be pricier, as only limited amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.

With the end of R-22, many new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer strong. As it needs a varying pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the potential to contribute to global warming. As a consequence, it could also eventually be phased out. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.

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

In preparation of the discontinuation, some manufacturers have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming possibility—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy consumption by approximately 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be sent on to you through your energy costs.

AC Sales Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In brief, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you greatly until you have to have repairs. But as we talked about previously, refrigerant repairs may be pricier since there are the low amounts on hand.

In addition to that, your air conditioner often malfunctions at the worst time, typically on the muggiest day when we’re receiving many other calls for AC repair.

If your air conditioner uses a phased out refrigerant or is getting old, we suggest installing a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a trouble-free summer and can even decrease your electrical costs, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, AC Sales has many financing options to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at (337) 234-2345 to get started now with a free estimate.