Considerations To Take If Your AC Uses R-22
Central air conditioning units are a necessity in maintaining a comfortable indoor environment in our homes. But sadly, most people do not fully appreciate their value. These systems serve us by helping maintain a cool temperature inside our homes during humid and blistering hot summers. However, if your unit is older than 15 years, and it breaks down during this season, then you have a huge decision to make. You will have to choose whether to repair or replace it.
The US government passed a mandatory regulation that required R-22 refrigerants to be phased out by January 1, 2020. This regulation means that you will have to either pay astronomical refrigerant prices or install a newer model air conditioning system in your home if your air conditioner has a coolant leak. However, most HVAC experts agree that an AC upgrade is far more economical. There are several reasons why this will happen, and we will explain all of them in this article.
When Was The R-22 Phaseout Complete In The United States?
Contents
- 1 When Was The R-22 Phaseout Complete In The United States?
- 2 Is R-22 Refrigerant Still Available In Connecticut?
- 3 What Is The Damage Caused To The Environment By R-22?
- 4 Comparison Of The Energy Efficiency Of R-22 Vs. R-410a
- 5 What Is The Cost Of R-22 Per Pound?
- 6 Air Conditioning Savings And HVAC Tax Credit
- 7 Conclusion
R-22 is the substance that air conditioners use for refrigeration. In old cooling units, this substance used to be the manufacturer’s refrigerant of choice. R22 worked perfectly in helping air conditioners extract warm air from the indoors and pump it outside the house. That is why manufacturers widely adopted it for use in air conditioning systems.
However, R-22 has since fallen out of favor since it negatively affects the environment. HVAC manufacturers have already invested vast amounts of money in the research and development of a better refrigerant to replace R-22. The United States government has placed stringent regulations on the manufacturing of this refrigerant. As of January 1, 2020, it was considered punishable by law if you are caught manufacturing or trying to import R-22 into the United States.
Is R-22 Refrigerant Still Available In Connecticut?
The answer is yes. R-22 is still available, but there are limited supplies. Due to the economic model of supply and demand, this substance is costly to purchase. For instance, to refill your air conditioning unit, you may have to pay $2,000. R-22 refrigerant price, however, depends on the size of your system, meaning that you may have to pay even more. The larger your air conditioner is, the more you will pay to recharge it.
If you own a 5-ton air conditioning unit, you may have to pay upwards of $2,000 for a recharge. For your peace of mind, we recommend that you replace your older unit with a newer, more energy-efficient one and avoid spending so much money recharging the old one. After all, an older unit does not have many years of service.
We know that this might sound like bad news to many, but from the beginning of 2020, R-22 refrigerant was no longer be produced or imported. This aspect means that if you are still using the old HVAC system and it requires a refill, you will have no choice but to replace the unit with a new one or pay more than you might expect for an air conditioner repair. You should, therefore, take advantage of the lower prices of replacement ACs this year.
What Is The Damage Caused To The Environment By R-22?
Scientists discovered that R-22 has a huge negative impact on the environment. For this reason, the U.S. government placed a ban on this substance from being produced and imported. R-22 contains hydrochlorofluorocarbons or HCFCs.[1]
HCFCs are a chemical compound that is very harmful to the environment. These compounds are among those responsible for the damage caused to the ozone layer. The ozone layer is an invisible layer in the earth’s atmosphere that protects us from ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Due to pollutants such as HCFCs, a large hole had raptured in this layer. Therefore, there was an introduction of a ban on the use of the products that contained this chemical.[2]
Since the commencement of the ban, there has been a reduction in the size of the hole, making the earth safer again from exposure to UV radiation. It is, therefore, vital that you play your part in protecting the environment by replacing your air conditioner with a newer and eco-friendly one that uses Puron (R-410a).
Comparison Of The Energy Efficiency Of R-22 Vs. R-410a
R-22 & R-410a Refrigerants: What Are The Differences?
Due to aging, all air conditioners deteriorate in terms of their efficiency. They develop cracks and leaks due to pressure build up. Dust and dirt accumulate on their surfaces. Also, as an air conditioner ages, there is wear and tear due to friction. Even though an older system will still serve you by making your home environment more comfortable, it will consume much more power to do so, compared to the time when it was still new. The higher an air conditioner’s level of electricity consumption is, the more money you will have to spend on your energy bill. It is, therefore, smarter and economically viable to get a new and more efficient unit.
Due to advancements in technology, the energy efficiency of HVAC systems continues to improve as the days go by. Putting everything into consideration, if you compare an air conditioning unit from 2005 to a modern one, the later reigns in superiority than the former. Combine this with factors such as wear and tear and degradation of efficiency, the newer unit makes a better and more cost-efficient air conditioning system to install in your home.
What Is The Cost Of R-22 Per Pound?
R-22 refrigerant was still in production in 2019. Even now,0, you can still recharge your system with it. However, manufacturers are no longer producing it anymore. As a result, its price has been skyrocketing every passing day due to high demand and low supply. We do not see this changing any time soon. Therefore, you will have to spend quite a bit for every pound of r22 refrigerant.
Essentially, you will have to dig deep into your pocket and pay for unbelievably high repair charges in case your air conditioner has a leak, or its refrigerant level falls.
Air Conditioning Savings And HVAC Tax Credit
The US government is offering incentives to homeowners to replace their HVAC systems with newer ones. Some of the incentives include tax cuts to help foot the cost of purchasing a new unit. For more information about this and to learn more about the computations, visit the ACCA or Air Conditioning Contractors of America.
The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) is what is used to determine the amount of savings you can make on an air conditioning unit’s upgrade. The higher the rating, the more savings you can make on tax credits, rebates, and incentives. Apart from that, the higher the rating of your HVAC system, the better its efficiency. If you have a cooling system with a high SEER rating, you will pay less for its operating cost. Today’s best air conditioners use 30% to 50% less energy to produce the same amount of cooling as air conditioners made in the mid-1970s. Even if your air conditioner is only 10 years old, you may save 20% to 40% of your cooling energy costs by replacing it with a newer, more efficient model.[3]
For more information on how you can save money when upgrading your air conditioning unit, and to learn more about the tax breaks available in your locality, make sure you contact Wilcox Energy today and schedule a free, in-home AC system assessment.
Conclusion
At Wilcox Energy, we pride ourselves on providing the most affordable air conditioning services for both residential and commercial properties. We are specialists in HVAC repairs, installations, tune-ups, and maintenance of HVAC systems.
Whenever you require air conditioning services, be sure to give us a call. Our certified technicians can find the best solutions to meet your cooling needs. All of our services are fast, friendly, and affordable. Call now!
For more information about our HVAC services, be sure to contact Wilcox Energy. You can click here to contact us or you can call us at (860) 399-6218 to find out more. We offer a full line of heating and cooling repairs, maintenance services, and installations.
[1] Phaseout of Ozone-Depleting Substances (ODS) (https://www.epa.gov/ods-phaseout)
[2] Ozone depletion, explained (https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/ozone-depletion/)
[3] US Department of Energy (https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/central-air-conditioning)