You might not think much about how your air conditioner works, but it needs refrigerant to keep your home fresh. This refrigerant is subject to environmental rules, as it contains chemicals.

Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may need R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Omaha, as well as how these phaseouts affect you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It No Longer Being Made?

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it probably has Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner uses it by reaching us at 402-509-5940. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your residence. This sticker will include details on what type of refrigerant your AC uses.

Freon, which is also known as R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs refrigerants in the United States, banned its creation and import in January 2020.

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

It differs. If your air conditioning is operating correctly, you can continue to run it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system 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 costs!

If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it might cause difficulties if you have to have air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be pricier, because only limited amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.

With the phaseout of R-22, most new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer healthy. Since 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 sometime be phased out. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?

In preparation of the end, some brands have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming possibility—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy consumption by about 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 utility costs.

Interstate Heating & Air Conditioning Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In summary, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you a whole lot until you require repairs. But as we went over beforehand, refrigerant-related repairs can be more expensive since there are the low quantities available.

In addition to that, your air conditioner usually stops working at the worst time, typically on the hottest day when we’re getting lots of other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner requires a discontinued refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we recommend installing a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a hassle-free summer and may even reduce your cooling bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Interstate Heating & Air Conditioning has many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 402-509-5940 to start right away with a free estimate.