Do AC Units Still Use Freon?
Have you ever heard someone say “Oh, that AC probably just needs recharged” or “I bet the air conditioner has a freon leak.” If you have, then you’re already partially knowledgeable about AC Refrigerants. In recent years though, there have been major shifts happening in the types of refrigerants that air conditioners are allowed to use, which means that if you have an older AC unit on its last legs…
It may be time to consider installing a new air conditioning system. If you feel like this is you, but aren’t sure what the next steps are, give us a call at GMC Heating and Cooling: (330)484-4328
You may be wondering, “what is the difference between Freon and Puron?”
The Basics on Freon vs. Puron
Freon
Freon (also known as R22) was invented by Thomas Midgley, Jr. aided by Charles Franklin Kettering in 1928. It dominated the refrigeration and air conditioning industry by replacing it’s predecessor R12, which was extremely toxic for the environment.
Despite being less harmful to the environment than R12, the government passed laws stating that by 2020 Freon would no longer be produced or imported but small amounts of the product would be available for a short period of time.
This means that for any Air Conditioning system that uses Freon (R22 Refrigerant) as its coolant, will be at high risk of not being able to be repaired in the near future. Couple that with the supply chain issues we are all experiencing in 2022, and the future looks dismal.
Puron
Refrigerant R410A (Puron) was invented by the Honeywell corporation in 1991. The first air conditioning unit using this new non-ozone depleting refrigerant was released by Carrier in 1996, and they trademarked the name Puron.
Essentially, the only difference between Freon and Puron is that Puron is more environmentally friendly, more energy efficient and allows the air conditioning unit to provide the household with better air quality.
What do I do if I have an AC that uses Freon?
Now that the industry has officially banned Freon from being produced or imported, it will continue to become more expensive and harder to find. Luckily we here at GMC Heating and Cooling have a decent supply in our warehouse (located right here in Canton, OH) but even we won’t have it forever.
If you own an HVAC system that was installed before 2010, it most likely uses Freon. Because properly functioning air conditioning units shouldn’t need refrigerant replaced, as long as your unit doesn’t spring any leaks you’ll be ok. It’s when things start to go wrong that it may become difficult.
We would recommend checking to see if your AC Unit uses freon. If it does, it would be beneficial for you to start thinking about what a plan to replace your system in the next few years looks like. The supply of Freon is going to continue to dry up which means repairs will continue to just get more expensive.
It’s way better to plan these types of things ahead, than it is to be sitting in a house that is 80+ degrees on a sunny day because your AC just stopped working.
If you’re unsure of whether or not your unit uses Freon, or you want to have your AC unit inspected because it’s older and you want to make sure there aren’t any small issues that could turn into big problems - schedule an appointment with one of our qualified comfort technicians by contacting us at GMC Heating and Cooling.