Are Air Conditioning Refrigerants Being Phased Out?

You might not think much about how your air conditioner works, but it requires refrigerant to keep your house cold. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental regulation, as it contains chemicals.

Based on when your air conditioner was added to your home, 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 Milwaukee, in addition to how these phaseouts affect you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it probably uses Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner contains it by calling us at 414-207-4034. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your home. This sticker will have information on what type of refrigerant your AC has.

Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, banned its manufacture 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 as designed, you can continue to use it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on annual cooling expenses!

If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it may create difficulties if you have to have air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be pricier, since only reduced quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.

With the discontinuation of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer strong. Because it needs an incompatible pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the possibility to lead to global warming. As a consequence, it may also ultimately be ended. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated 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—around 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 bills.

Done Right Air Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you very much until you need repairs. But as we talked about earlier, refrigerant repairs can be more costly due to the reduced amounts available.

Not to mention, your air conditioner often malfunctions at the worst time, frequently on the hottest day when we’re getting a lot of other calls for AC repair.

If your air conditioner requires a phased out refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we recommend installing an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a trouble-free summer and could even lower your cooling expenses, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Done Right Air has many financing programs to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 414-207-4034 to start now with a free estimate.