If you have central air conditioning, there is a good chance you know what R-22 is or in other words, freon. This is what helps your AC to cool the air in your home. Did you know that by January of 2020, R-22 is going to be completely phased out and replaced with a newer form of freon called R-410A? You may be wondering what this change is going to mean for your and for your home. Hal Mechanical is here to talk about the change and what you should expect for your home.
Why is R22 Refrigerant Being Phased Out?
To make this change from R-22 to R-410A is one that will take a significant amount of effort, but it is all for a good reason. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, R-22 is damaging to our Earth’s ozone. The new form of freon is R-410A is far less damaging to the ozone and will still offer you cool air when the hottest months of the year are upon you. This doesn’t mean that you need to run out and buy a new AC unit though, so you can relax.
How to Know if Your HVAC Unit Uses R22?
The amount of R-22 that is used in AC units has drastically reduced in recent years. This process of phasing it out has been happening for a while now, but if you have a unit that was made before 2004, you definitely use R-22. If you are wondering if your unit uses R-22, you may be able to find it labeled on your unit. R-22 is also referred to as HCFC-22 and that is likely what what the label will read.
What If Your AC Unit Uses R-22?
If your AC unit uses R-22 to cool your home, you don’t need to panic. You also don’t need to run out and replace your unit to use the newer and better freon. Replacing your AC can be a costly endeavor that you don’t want to do until you absolutely have to. The switch to R-410A means that if you ever need to charge your freon, or your AC unit springs leak, you will have to replace the unit because it can’t be charged. You should know that after January 2020, if your unit runs low on R-22 you should never add R-410A to it. Think of putting diesel fuel in a car that uses gasoline. The outcome is not a good one.
Central Air Conditioning Services & More in Aliante, Anthem, Desert Shores, Eldorado, Enterprise, Green Valley Ranch, Henderson, Inspirada, Mountain’s Edge, North LV, Peccole Ranch, Paradise, Providence, Rhodes Ranch, Seven Hills, Silverado Ranch, Spring Valley, Summerlin, Sunrise Manor, The Lakes, Tuscany Village & Las Vegas Nevada
The best way to extend the life of your AC unit that uses R-22 freon is regular maintenance. If you perform scheduled maintenance on your unit, it will drastically reduce the chances of needing to replace it in the near future. At Hal Mechanical, we provide our valued customers with exceptional AC maintenance, installation and replacement services to help keep you comfortable no matter how hot the temperature outside may be. Turn to us for all of your AC needs. Call us today!
