Refrigerant Changes – Is This The Year You Upgrade Your Air Conditioner?

Have you been putting off updating your air conditioner? Have you been relying on repairs to keep an old air conditioner working? This may be the year for upgrading. 

Over the years, transitions have been made to how air conditioners operate. If you remember the term Freon, you might know that refrigerant has changed throughout the years. Freon is no longer allowed to be sold for operational use. It’s been faded out of the system because of its impact on the environment. 

To satisfy government regulations, the HVAC industry is transitioning from R-410A refrigerant to R-454B by 2023. The goal of the latest amendment is to cut the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by more than 80 percent over the coming years. 

HFCs are mainly used as refrigerants. R-410A refrigerants began production in the 1980s, and have become one of the most common refrigerant compounds in use. It replaced R-22, which was required by January 1, 2020, meaning it’s no longer produced nor can it be installed in an existing system. If your system still uses R-22, you have no choice but to replace your equipment when it needs repair because there will be no way to recharge the refrigerant. 

While HFCs are ozone friendly, they still operate as potent greenhouse gasses. R-454B was developed as an alternative to further reduce greenhouse gasses. 

At this time, as a homeowner, you don’t need to do anything. If your system is operating well, continue using it. 

But if you’re planning on upgrading your equipment prior to 2023 rollout, keep in mind that R-410A will be eliminated from production, and it will impact any future repairs you may make to your equipment. Pay attention to what a new system uses as refrigerant, as this has the potential for reducing your equipment’s life if you can no longer recharge the refrigerant. 

It may be worth it to select an air conditioner that’s fully upgraded now. 

What questions can we answer about your existing air conditioner? How will refrigerant changes impact your equipment? Give us a call today with any of your concerns.