As people become increasingly aware of the negative effects of pollution on our environment, the government responds by setting up regulations and goals to reduce our carbon footprint and cut down on pollution. The air conditioning industry, from designers, manufacturers, suppliers and installers is reacting accordingly by using environmentally safe refrigerants.

In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency is in the process of phasing out the use of a refrigerant called R-22 Freon. The use of Freon in the U.S. began to diminish in 2010 because it tends to deplete the Earth's ozone layer, which we need to protect us from harmful ultraviolet radiation that is emanating from the sun.

The government has mandated that no more Freon can be produced after the year 2020. In its place, HVAC systems will use the more environmentally friendly refrigerants R-410 and R-422.

Many business owners and homeowners still have Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning or HVAC systems that use Freon, and it's important for them to continue obtaining regular service and maintenance to keep the equipment running efficiently. As fewer people use Freon, its cost will go up.

HVAC Repairs and Maintenance

Prudent Jacksonville homeowners and business owners know how important it is to do regular inspections, maintenance and repairs on the property, particularly for the HVAC system. By setting up appointments for regular service through a company such as David Gray Heating & Air, you ensure that any problems or inefficiencies will be quickly discovered and taken care of, before they develop into more expensive problems.

If your HVAC system is an older model and relies on R-22 Freon, you should be aware that the cost of this refrigerant is rising because it becoming scarce during the government's mandated phase-out.

In some cases, homeowners and business owners find that it's better for their budget to keep the older system for a while longer and pay for the increased costs of adding more refrigerant as needed. Eventually, however, they will need to determine the point at which they can save money by installing a brand new system.

The EPA is not requiring anyone to swap out or convert their units that use R-22 Freon, but you may wish to do a retrofit of your outdated equipment. Talk with your Jacksonville HVAC professional to get details to help you decide whether to keep your old system as it is, to retrofit it or to replace it outright.

Installing A Brand New HVAC System

If your HVAC system is fairly old, it's likely that it is using the outdated Freon. At a certain point, it will become more cost-effective for you to replace the equipment with a brand new HVAC system.

Modern HVAC equipment works much more efficiently than older systems, which means that you stand to save a great deal of money on your energy utility bills. A new system will also increase the resale value of your property. Being able to boast to people that your HVAC system is environmentally safe is another great selling point.

Not only will you save money on your heating and cooling costs, you will also save money during each inspection and maintenance call, as the technician won't have to top off your refrigerant with the older, less environmentally friendly Freon.

Businesses and homeowners in the greater Jacksonville area know that they can count on the professionally trained experts at David Gray Heating & Air to handle all their HVAC repair, service and installation needs. For more information on using environmentally safe refrigerants in your business or residential air conditioning system, please feel free to contact us today.