The refrigerant in an aging air conditioner can cause trouble beyond poor cooling. When a leak develops, that escaping chemical can heat the planet and leave you with a higher electric bill.
What's happening?
According to Earth911, R-410A, one of the refrigerants used most widely in air conditioners, carries an enormous climate cost. The outlet reported that each ton of R-410A has the same global warming effect as 7,308 tons of carbon dioxide, which is why the U.S. is moving away from it.
Cooling appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators, and freezers depend on refrigerants to shuttle heat around. Those chemicals become a largely invisible pollution problem when older or damaged equipment lets them escape through worn tubing, loose seals, or other failures.
As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency phases out R-410A, the HVAC industry is turning to lower-impact replacements, including R-454B for central AC systems and R-32 for ductless units.
These new refrigerants help reduce the amount of planet-warming emissions over time. And, when they are paired with ultra-efficient new HVAC systems like heat pumps, those emissions can be shrunk even further by reducing how much energy it takes to warm and cool your home.
If you're considering replacing older heating and cooling equipment, EnergySage can help you explore efficient HVAC options through its heat pump marketplace program, which connects you with vetted installers and can help you slash your energy bills with new, efficient HVACs.
Why does it matter?
A refrigerant leak in your AC or fridge can show up on your monthly bill, because the equipment may need more energy to do the same job.
Age makes these systems more prone to problems, since years of vibration can loosen joints and wear down parts. Even a minor leak can drag down performance, making your home less comfortable as utility costs climb.
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What can I do?
Older equipment, weak performance, or unexplained jumps in energy use are all signs that a qualified technician should check your system for leaks. Fixing a small issue early is usually less expensive than dealing with a full breakdown or major refrigerant loss later.
If replacement makes more sense, EnergySage's heat pump marketplace can help you compare efficient heating and cooling solutions for your home.
And if you're not ready to spend up front, Palmetto offers a $0-down HVAC leasing program that can lower your energy costs by up to 50%. Palmetto's HVAC leases start as low as $99/month and include 12 years of free maintenance.
At a lower price point, Merino, another company, makes single-room ultra-efficient HVACs for targeted heating and cooling that can be installed in under an hour.
You can also push utility costs even lower by pairing electric appliances such as efficient HVACs with rooftop solar. EnergySage makes it easy to find the best solar system and installer for your home and budget, potentially saving you up to $10,000 on installations.
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