What Will Happen to R22 and How it Affects You

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010 and you don’t know what R22 is then you should probably find out more. R22 refrigerant is a chemical that keeps the air coming from your air conditioning system cool, so it’s undoubtedly incredibly important. Most air conditioning units older than 10 years use an AC refrigerant called R22 that’s commonly identified as Freon*, and is referred to by the EPA as HCFC-22. In this article, we’ll use the name R22. This refrigerant was introduced in the 1950s and became the predominant AC refrigerant in the residential heating and cooling industry.

The Montreal Protocol

Several decades later the world realized that R22 refrigerant was aiding in the depletion of the Earth’s ozone layer. That’s not great. So, the U.S. EPA, in cooperation with other agencies and groups around the world, initiated a phase out of lots of ozone-depleting agents as part of an international agreement known as the Montreal Protocol. The regulation lists many HCFCs and CFCs (different types of refrigerants that deplete the ozone layer), but R22 is believed to be one of the worst offenders.

Timeline and R22 phase out progress in 2018

In 2003, the phase out of R22 production and imports launched. By the beginning of 2010 the production and import of R22 became prohibited. However, servicing current, existing equipment is still acceptable if there is an available supply of R22. To guarantee the public’s compliance with the new law, all sales of R22 must be purchased by a certified technician R22 refrigerant will be obtainable to service existing air conditioners after 2020.

The graph above shows the EPA’s consumption allowance of R22 by percentage. The limits on R22 consumption were implemented in 2010 and follow a declining trend until 2020.

So how does this affect prices?

If you’re thinking that this sounds like a great case study for an economics professor teaching supply and demand, then you are correct. As you can imagine, older air conditioners may have more leaks and need repairs. Any units that are older than 2010 are more likely to use R22, which means there’s a lot more demand for it, and a very limited supply. Prices have only gone up due to scarcity.

Recall that in order to buy R22, you have to be an EPA-certified technician. So, the average homeowner can’t purchase a cylinder themselves. Plus, there are some stern regulations now on how refrigerant should be reclaimed and recycled, which increases expenses. This expense is passed on to the homeowner as companies have to cover the increased overhead related to R22 repairs. There are requirements for importing, labeling, record keeping, reporting, destruction and reclaiming of R22 from existing units.

So, how will this affect you?

The cost of R22 is radically increasing because of the diminishing supply, and new refrigerant will no longer be available for use at all after 2020, except from recycled quantities.

If you’re thinking, “Holy cow, this is starting to sound expensive,” you’re correct, it is. This is why when our experts come out to assess your unit we check to see what refrigerant your unit uses, and in many cases, we’ll recommend an upgrade because of the increasing cost of maintaining an R22 air conditioner.

How do I know if my unit uses R22?

If you have an air conditioning system that was built before 2010, your AC will likely have R22. However, if you installed your air conditioner after January 1, 2010, then your air conditioner may not have R22. You can see the type of refrigerant your system runs on by checking the appliance’s nameplate. This nameplate is usually found on the outdoor condenser of your central air conditioning system. If you don’t find it, you can check your user’s manual. Otherwise, you can contact your local Service Experts center. If you have a maintenance agreement with us, we also have your information on hand and a tech can let you know immediately if your unit uses R22.

Instead of Freon, use Puron

The industry has moved from R22 to R410a, which you may identify by the brand name Puron. For the rest of this article, we’ll use the name R410a (although Puron is a recognized brand, there are other companies that make R410a). There are some key benefits to switching from an R22 air conditioning unit to one that uses R410a. It offers a higher safety rating tests than R22.

You may have read about “drop-in” replacements for R22. We strongly recommend against this route. Typically a homeowner who is uneasy about the cost of replacing their unit seeks out an alternative, and this feels like an easy solution. It usually costs the homeowner more money, and nearly always voids the manufacturer warranty. The reality about “drop-ins” is that there is no “drop-in” solution where you simply swap out the refrigerant. The phrase “drop-in” is indicating retrofitting a air conditioner, which when done correctly can cost the homeowner as much, or more, money than buying a new unit that uses R410a. In part, this is because different refrigerants operate at different pressure levels and need different parts to run, which means the technician is forced to replace the most expensive components of your system to work with the new refrigerant. If this crucial step is avoided, your system will quickly stop operating, and you’ll need to get a new unit anyway. If you are dead set on exploring retrofitting, then consult with an HVAC professional to determine your best option.  

Your manufacturer will typically not pay for the parts to make this transition because retrofitting your AC system will likely void the warranty. It’s normally just a temporary fix, but purchasing a new upgraded AC system will probably benefit most homeowners in dependability, satisfaction, and long-term comfort.

It’s wise to discuss pricing offers with your HVAC provider if you’re worried about cost. At Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, we provide financing plans that make a replacement achieveable, and we keep track of any manufacturer and utility rebates that would make it easier to swallow a surprising replacement. To avoid emergencies on a hot day, a lot of of our customers elect to do a pre-emptive replacement, and replace an old AC before it quits working. If you’re thinking the same thing, then you’re in good company!

If your unit was built after 2010, you’re probably safe

If your heating and air conditioning system was built after January 2010, the R22 phase out dilemma may not apply to you, because it’s possible that your system uses the new, approved replacement refrigerant, R410a. However, systems installed after 2010 could still use R22, so it’s ideal to check with an HVAC Expert. You can always find this and the refrigerant type by reading the nameplate on your condenser (the condenser is the outside unit).

What do I do if my air conditioner uses R22?

To summarize, if your HVAC equipment was produced prior to January 2010, particularly if it’s older than a decade, you have these options:

1. Buy an upgraded, more environmentally-friendly system that uses R410a.
2. Reach out to an expert to replace the parts in your current air conditioner to help make it compatible with an approved air conditioner refrigerant. This is not advised.
3. Keep using recycled R22 and burn through costs like it’s the ozone layer.

To be clear, the EPA regulates the production and use of this refrigerant, but not your unit. The law doesn’t require you to replace your air conditioner. At some point, your AC will not work and it will need to be replaced, and only R410a units will be available for sale.

The most straightforward option is to purchase a new, upgraded air conditioner, specifically if your current air conditioner is already more than 10 years old. Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning has lots of financing options that help make the purchase affordable, and again, we look out for rebates from HVAC manufacturers and local utilities to make it even easier. New AC equipment will also be more efficient and present you superior comfort, helping to decrease your energy costs.

You could also select the status quo and continue using recycled R22 air conditioning refrigerant for the near future. While this sounds like a good alternative, the price of servicing old R22 A/C systems is starting to surpass several hundred dollars (easily a down payment on a new system). You may also see the prices climb as demand continues to rise on a substance that is no longer produced or widely obtainable.

If you aren’t aware of what type of AC refrigerant your air conditioning system uses, our team is here. Reach out to Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning today and we can provide an inspection to find out if you are currently using R22 and, if so, which option works best for you.

The good news

While making the move to an approved AC refrigerant may stressful, it’s helping to save the ozone layer. These regulations will help guard the ozone layer in the Earth’s atmosphere, which helps block radiation from the sun and prevents serious illnesses, such as skin cancer. It’s not exaggerated to say that you, as a homeowner, are a grand part of this by replacing an old R22 unit with a newer, ozone friendly unit.

If you have any questions, please reach us for a free, in-home consultation by filling out the form below.

*Freon is a registered trademark of the DuPont Corporation

Sources:
1.https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2013/12/24/2013-29817/protection-of-stratospheric-ozone-adjustments-to-the-allowance-system-for-controlling-hcfc