If your air conditioner or heat pump was installed in the last 15 years or so, there’s a good chance it uses a refrigerant called R410A. You may have heard it’s being “phased out.” Here’s what that actually means for New York City homeowners, and what it doesn’t mean.
What changed
Under the EPA’s refrigerant rules, new air conditioners and heat pumps built for R410A are no longer being produced. New equipment now uses newer refrigerants, such as R-454B or R-32, that have a lower impact on the climate.
What it doesn’t mean
R410A refrigerant is still available. If your system runs on R410A, it can still be serviced and repaired. You don’t need to replace a system that’s working well just because of the refrigerant change.
If your system is leaking
As production of R410A is phased down, it’s likely to get more expensive over time. That makes leaks more costly:
- Don’t just keep recharging. Adding refrigerant to a leaking system every season is an expensive short-term fix. The leak should be found and repaired.
- Repeated leaks in an older system are a sign it’s time to start planning a replacement, before it fails on the hottest day of the year.
If you’re planning a replacement
- A new system will use one of the newer refrigerants. Refrigerants can’t be mixed, so a new outdoor unit can’t simply be added onto an old R410A indoor unit.
- Your existing refrigerant lines may or may not be reusable, depending on their size and condition. We check them before giving you a price.
- Planning ahead gives you time to compare options, instead of making a rushed decision during a breakdown.
Repair first, honestly
When we look at an R410A system, we’ll tell you plainly whether a repair makes sense or whether replacement is the better choice, and you’ll get the numbers in a written estimate before any work begins. We serve all five NYC boroughs. Call (212) 516-9632. Calls are answered 24/7. See also: AC repair and commercial HVAC.