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

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

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

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it possibly contains Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner uses it by contacting us at 301-960-3247. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your house. This sticker will have details on what kind of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also called R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, banned its production and import in January 2020.

I Use an Air Conditioner with R-22. Do I Need to Get a New One?

It depends. If your air conditioning is operating correctly, you can continue to use it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to work around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports 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 can create an issue if you require air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be more expensive, since only reduced amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.

With the discontinuation of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer healthy. As it calls for a varying pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the likelihood to create global warming. As a consequence, it might also sometime be phased out. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?

In preparation of the end, some brands have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming possibility—approximately 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 may be passed on to you through your utility bills.

H&C Heating and Cooling Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you very much until you need repairs. But as we discussed previously, refrigerant repairs may be pricier since there are the low quantities that are accessible.

Not to mention, your air conditioner often malfunctions at the worst time, frequently on the hottest day when we’re receiving lots of other requests for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on a phased out refrigerant or is getting old, we advise installing an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a trouble-free summer and may even reduce your utility expenses, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, H&C Heating and Cooling has many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 301-960-3247 to start right away with a free estimate.