Low On Freon

We are getting a number of calls from people in the area saying that their air conditioning system isn't working well or they see ice on their refrigerant lines.  This is often the symptom of a freon leak.  The freon circuit of your system is sealed and should never have to be refilled.  If you have a leak the wise move would be to have a leak search performed and the leak repaired immediately.  If not, you will be faced with substantial bills for adding freon over the remaining life of the system.

At this time, about half of air conditioning systems use the new R410a freon while the rest use R22 which is now prohibited.  Due to the lack of production of R22, the price has risen dramatically in the last 5 years.  We've heard of pricing in the field from $30 a pound all the way to $96 a pound.  The average sized air conditioning system uses between 9-12 lbs.

On the other hand, a leak search can cost between $125 and $250 depending on how long it takes to identify the leak.  The leak repair, if it can be repaired, will add another few hundred.  In addition, you will have to pay for the freon required to recharge the system after the leak is repaired.

What to do?  If your system uses R410a and is within the manufacturer's warranty, consider having the defective part replaced or the leak repaired.  If your system uses R22, you may want to consider the advantages of replacing the system rather than face continuing expense of refilling your system or paying for repairs for a system that is discontinued.

Angie's list offers some helpful advice.  If the cost of the repair multiplied by the age of the system exceeds $5,000, consider system replacement.  If it is less than $5,000, consider repair.

Need a new system?  Surgi's can help.  Need a healthier, more comfortable life?  We can change the way you feel about your home. 

Questions?  Call 469-4232.

While you are researching try the following articles on Surgi's website:

The Perfect Air Conditioning System

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Why Air Conditioning Costs Are Heating Up

You might wish that summer could go on and on – until it comes time to recharge your air conditioning system. 

The cost of the common refrigerant R-22 (also known as Freon), widely used in residential air conditioning systems, has already increased by more than 400 percent in the past 18 months and is expected to go even higher, making air conditioning repairs more costly for many.

R-22 has been the refrigerant of choice for residential heat pump and air conditioning systems for more than four decades, but it has been identified as having a negative environmental impact, including contributing to ozone depletion. Under EPA regulations, R-22 is being phased out, with production totally prohibited after 2020.

This has added new considerations for homeowners who are considering whether to repair or replace an air conditioning unit. For instance, some refrigerant manufacturers have begun selling cheaper alternatives to R-22, often referred to as “drop-in” replacement refrigerants. But alternatives are cheaper only in the short run.

One of the leading air conditioning manufacturers, has conducted research that shows these cheaper alternate refrigerants are not compatible with the lubricating oil used in R-22 units.  Recharging older air conditioners with these alternative refrigerants may actually damage the system and void your manufacturer’s warranty. As a result, we’ve instructed our technicians to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and use only R-22 when they recharge R-22 systems.

Reclaimed and recycled R-22 is expected to be available to repair existing systems after production ceases in 2020, but as the supply of new R-22 refrigerant continues to be reduced, costs of both new and recycled R-22 refrigerant will increase significantly.

All new air conditioning systems now use a more environmentally friendly refrigerant, R410A. These newer systems offer many benefits, including greater energy efficiency, longer warranty periods and quieter operation, and may prove to be the wiser investment when homeowners are faced with repairing an older system that uses R-22 refrigerant. 

There is no one-size-fits-all answer about whether to repair or replace your R-22 AC.  It really does depend on the individual family, their home, their lifestyle and their budget. Surgi's technicians are trained to spend considerable time working through all these factors with our customers and help them make the most informed decision, and we’re happy to answer homeowner questions on this topic.       Reprinted from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Need a new system?  Surgi's can help.  Need a healthier, more comfortable life?  We can change the way you feel about your home. 

Call 469-4232 for a free estimate today!

While you are researching try the following articles on Surgi's website:

The Perfect Air Conditioning System

The Problem With R-22 Freon

In an effort to curb the use of greenhouse gases, the congress passed legislation phasing out the use of Freon R-22.  The industry had a choice of acceptable gases and eventually chose R-410a as an environmentally friendly alternative.  Production of R-22 condensers was to have ceased in 2005 with the manufacture of R-22 gas.

Manufacturers, some happily, some reluctantly, discovered a loophole in the law and bagan producing R-22 condensers in 2010.  They circumvented the legislation by not shipping these new units with R-22.  Instead, they put a holding charge of Nitrogen in the machines which is purged during installation and re-charged with R-22 by the installer.

To combat this practice, in the winter of 2012 the EPA notified chemical manufacturers that the production of R-22 was likely to be further reduced by 45% by the end of 2012.  This notification caused manufacturers to increase R-22 prices which caused a run on available stock by wholesalers and air conditioning dealers.  Since the original EPA notification, the cost of R-22 at wholesale has risen from $5.50 a pound to $13.00.

With labor, overhead and profit added, the cost of R-22 at retail now ranges from $40 to $60 a pound.  At an average of 3 lbs. of refrigerant per ton the average system will require $400 - $600 worth of freon at installation.

Surgi's feels that the continued sale of R-22 condensers is not in the best interest of our customers or the environment.  The continued use R-22 in the residential marketplace is financially harmful to consumers in the long run. 

The overall cost of operating, maintaining and repairing an R-22 condenser over the life of the system may run 50-80% more than a comparable R-410a system.  So, don't let an air conditioning dealer convince you to continue to use R-22.  His desire to get a quick sale with lower labor costs may not be in your best interest.