Your AC equipment uses a chemical refrigerant to shift humidity within your residence outside. This makes your residence chilled and refreshing. The type of refrigerant used in residential air conditioner has switched several times over the years, keeping up with innovative advancements and environmental concerns.
All modern home air conditioners in Boise uses R410a, also known as Puron. But this refrigerant will consequently be phased out. This is a result of a continuous concentration on restricting compounds known to negatively affect the environment.
To learn the “why” behind air conditioning restrictions, it’s useful to put it into perspective. Two-thirds of the 128.5 million houses in the United States have cooling systems, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
But it’s not so much the air conditioning system itself, or even its cooling functions.
The main issue is the refrigerant these units use to make the comfort we enjoy.
Installed after 2010
If your unit was connected after January 1, 2010, it probably has R410a. And there’s a lot of time for you to get prepared for the phaseout. So, it’s not something you should be concerned about at this time.
Recommendations and schedules have been determined for commercial HVAC systems. But the start of the phaseout for residential cooling systems hasn’t yet been scheduled. However, the phaseout could start around 2024 and take 10 years to complete.
By that time, you might need to install a new your system anyhow, as the average life span for a cooling system is typically 15 years.
Installed Before 2010
This chemical isn’t being created today, but there are still a lot of Boise residential cooling systems using R22. If you need service, it might be very pricey since only recovered and recycled refrigerant is attainable.
In many cases, we propose buying a new your equipment because of the increasing costs of sustaining an AC unit with R22. Plus, you’ll be getting a better energy-efficient unit.
Give our Experts a call at 208-488-4892 right away and we’ll help you start finding a modern model.
How Do I Determine Which Refrigerant My AC Uses?
If you’re not sure what kind of refrigerant your AC runs on, you can check its panel. This piece is often found on the outdoor condenser. Or you can find it in your owner’s manual.
If you still can’t come across it, Boise residents should call us at 208-488-4892 and our Experts can provide support.
Why are Refrigerants Damaging to the Environment?
Older kinds of refrigerants can harm the planet and contribute to climate change. Here’s a glance at the history of residential air conditioner refrigerants:
- Residential air conditioners have used R22, or Freon, for a long time. Testing determined it was harmful to the environment and ozone, so production permanently ended on January 1, 2020.
- R410a is the replacement for R22. It’s what you’ll discover in all new air conditioners currently.
What Should I Do in the Interim?
If your air conditioner is near (or older than) 15 years, now’s a great time to start planning for installation.
We know that getting a new system can be a major expense. That’s why we provide our exclusive Advantage Program™ plus financing, With our Advantage Program, you can receive a new, high-efficiency system for just one small monthly payment. And get maintenance, repairs and parts at no added price.*
Get in touch with us at 208-488-4892 to schedule an appointment right away. We’ll talk through your budget and needs to help you locate the ideal comfort equipment for your house.