When the summer season starts to wind down is an ideal time to have an old air conditioning system replaced with a new one. AC technicians usually have less busy schedules when the temperatures start to cool, and they can make easy arrangements to put in the new air conditioner. You’ll then know that the system is ready to go for any of those surprise hot days that can pop up in Florida even during the winter.
There are many reasons that you may want to have your air conditioner replaced. Here’s one you may not have realized: if you have an AC that is over a decade old, it might have an outdated type of refrigerant in it. We’ll explain in more detail below.
The R-22 Phaseout
For many years, the most common type of refrigerant blend found in air conditioning systems was R-22. However, the U.S. government instituted a phaseout program for R-22 because of its ozone depleting effects, replacing it with a more environmentally safe blend called R-410A. As of 2010, R-22 may not be used in any new equipment, and manufacturers cannot make ACs or heat pumps that use it. All systems must now use R-410A.
What does this mean for you as consumer? If you have an old air conditioner that has served you for more than a decade, it might use R-22. Although you can still have service for it, R-22 will eventually no longer be manufactured. If your air conditioner fails, you will have a difficult time restoring it. We recommend that instead of seeking repairs for an air conditioner that relies on R-22, you instead have a new system put in.
To find out more about your options when it comes to installing a new air conditioner that uses R-410A, call our technicians today.
Kool Breeze of Northwest Florida, Inc. serves Destin, FL and the surrounding areas.