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 learn. R22 refrigerant is a chemical that keeps the air coming from your air conditioning system cool, so it’s unquestionably incredibly important. Most air conditioning units older than 10 years use an AC refrigerant called R22 that’s commonly recognized as Freon*, and is stated 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 leading 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, started a phase out of many 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 recognized as one of the worst offenders.

Timeline and R22 phase out progress in 2018

In 2003, the phase out of R22 production and imports began. By early 2010 the production and import of R22 was reduced. However, servicing current, existing equipment is still allowed as long as there is an available supply of R22. To guarantee the public’s compliance with the new law, all sales of R22 must be acquired 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 are starting to think this is a great topic for an economics professor regarding supply and demand, then you are correct. As you might assume, older air conditioners more often have 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 restricted supply. Prices have only risen due to scarcity.

Don’t forget that in order to purchase R22, you must be an EPA-certified technician. So, the normal homeowner can’t purchase a cylinder themselves. Also, there are some stern regulations now on how refrigerant is reclaimed and recycled, which raises the price. This fee is passed on to the homeowner as companies are forced to cover the increased overhead connected to R22 repairs. There are requirements for importing, labeling, record keeping, reporting, destruction and reclaiming of R22 from existing units.

So, what does this mean for you?

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

If you’re thinking, “Man, this is starting to sound expensive,” you’re spot-on, it is. This is why when our technicians come out to assess your unit we look to see what refrigerant your unit uses, and in many cases, we’ll recommend an upgrade due to the increasing cost of taking care of an R22 air conditioner.

How do I know if my unit uses R22?

If you own an air conditioning system that was built before 2010, your AC will probably have R22. However, if you installed your air conditioner after January 1, 2010, then your system may not have R22. You can check the type of refrigerant your system runs on by looking at the appliance’s nameplate. This nameplate is usually found on the outdoor condenser of your central air conditioning system. If you can’t locate it, you can check your user’s manual. Otherwise, you can call 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 quickly if your unit uses R22.

Instead of Freon, use Puron

The industry has made the switch from R22 to R410a, which you may recognize by the brand name Puron. Throughout this article, we’ll use the name R410a (although Puron is a familiar brand, there are other companies that make R410a). There are some valuable 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 against against this option. Typically a homeowner who is concerned about the cost of replacing their air conditioner seeks out an alternative, and this sounds like an easy solution. It usually costs the homeowner more money, and almost always voids the manufacturer warranty. The truth about “drop-ins” is that there is no “drop-in” solution where you just swap out the refrigerant. The phrase “drop-in” is suggesting retrofitting a system, which when done properly can cost the homeowner as much, or more, money than buying a new unit that uses R410a. In part, this is because different refrigerants function at different pressure levels and demand 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 running, and you’ll need to get a new unit anyway. If you are dead set on exploring this option, then consult with an HVAC specialist to determine your best option.  

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

It’s smart to discuss pricing options with your HVAC provider if you’re worried about cost. At Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, we provide financing plans that make a replacement doable, and we keep track of any manufacturer and utility rebates that would make it easier to swallow an unexpected replacement. To avoid emergencies on a hot day, lots of our customers decide to do a pre-emptive replacement, and replace an old AC before it doesn’t work. If you’re considering that route as well, 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 challenge may not apply to you, because it’s probably that your system uses the new, approved replacement refrigerant, R410a. However, systems installed after 2010 could potentially use R22, so it’s best 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, specifically if it’s older than a decade, you have these options:

1. Buy an upgraded, more environmentally-friendly system that uses R410a.
2. Contact an expert to replace the parts in your current unit 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 system. You are not required by the law to replace your air conditioner. At some point, your AC will stop working and it will need to be replaced, and only R410a units will be available for sale.

The ideal 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 several 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 is more efficient and present you superior comfort, helping to reduce your energy costs.

You could also pick the status quo and continue using recycled R22 air conditioning refrigerant for the time being. While this sounds like a nice alternative, the expense of servicing old R22 A/C systems is starting to go over several hundred dollars (easily a down payment on a new system). You may also see the prices increase as demand continues to rise on a substance that is no longer produced or widely accessable.

If you aren’t confident what type of AC refrigerant your air conditioning system uses, our team is here. Contact Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning today and we can provide an inspection to confirm if you are currently using R22 and, if so, what’s the best next step.

The good news

While making the transition to an approved AC refrigerant may intimidating, it’s helping to save the ozone layer. These regulations will help protect 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 large 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