What Do The EPA's Changes Mean For Existing Home Cooling Equipment?

This year has already been one for the books when it comes to change. While the U.S. Environmental Agency has changed a lot in recent years, the agency has moved forward with regulations on refrigerants used in air conditioning systems. All manufactured and new AC equipment of any type will be required to use an improved refrigerant that is less of an ecological concern. 

Traditionally, cooling has used a substance called R-410A  since moving away from the ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons in the '90s. This formerly new-and-improved stuff preserved the very necessary ozone layer that protects us from the sun's rays. However, it turns out that R-410A is also an extremely potent greenhouse gas. Moving forward, all new air conditioning systems will now cool with R-454B, a much more efficient and less-polluting product.

Your AC system is likely to cool with one of these problematic coolants, so what should you do? The requirements are for new AC units, not old ones. So for now, it'll save you plenty of bucks to stick with your current setup as long as it's effectively cooling your home. Yet, the phase-out will eventually make repairing old ones challenging. Still, the EPA is encouraging people to continue using and maintaining equipment that they already have as a way to fight climate change from your house.

Some in the HVAC biz are eager to suggest replacing your older units now, but it's more fiscally and environmentally responsible to replace what you already have when it's no longer repairable. There still is a stock of materials like fan motors or compressors to use for repairs on R-410A units, but the supply is dwindling. If you're plagued with air conditioning failures this season, see if you can fix your existing AC. You can reduce the ecological impact of your older units by making sure it isn't leaking any refrigerant. In the case of leaks, ask a technician to fix the leak rather than adding more coolant.

Make the most of what you have by trying some of these AC efficiency tricks shared by an HVAC expert. Once the time comes to replace your old system, be warned that a new R-454B one has a pretty high price tag. However, this investment may lead to lower cooling costs overall, since the new coolant is significantly more effective. As you chew on that a little, keep in mind that it's also an investment in climate protection. Regardless, keeping your AC unit maintained is the best thing you can do.