No one likes to be rushed when it comes to making a big-ticket purchase like a central air conditioner. But R-22 refrigerant supplies are waning, which means that it really is in your best interest to start thinking about replacing your A/C system.
As you may know, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is phasing out R-22 because of its ozone-depleting qualities. About 80 percent of the A/C systems in the United States depend on this refrigerant, which offers some good news and not-so-good news at the same time: You’re far from alone in facing the prospect of replacing your A/C system, but you’re also going to be competing for R-22 to keep your current air conditioner running. Also consider:
- As the phaseout of R-22 continues, prices have risen dramatically, and they are expected to continue moving in this direction. Homeowners in some parts of the country are understandably alarmed, but they tend to overlook the fact that R-22 is a greenhouse gas that is harmful to the environment. Replacing your air conditioner with a system that uses the new refrigerant, known as Puron, is safer.
- A new Energy Star-approved air conditioner will operate at 90 percent efficiency or more, and you’ll benefit by paying less to run it. Even if your system is less than 15 years old, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that a new system will save you between 20 and 40 percent on your utility bills.
- The U.S. government is trying to take the sting out of air conditioner replacement by offering a tax credit. Specifically, the 25C residential energy tax credit allows eligible homeowners to claim up to 10 percent of the cost of a new central air conditioning system, up to $300.
As the advantages add up, call the experts at Thermacon Service Companyfor an evaluation of your current system and let us show you how you can stop sweating the dwindling R-22 refrigerant supplies.
