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 vital. Most air conditioning units older than 10 years use an AC refrigerant called R22 that’s commonly known 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 main AC refrigerant in the residential heating and cooling industry.

The Montreal Protocol

Fast forward a few decades and 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 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 commenced. By the start of 2010 the production and import of R22 became prohibited. However, servicing current, existing equipment is still allowed while there is an available supply of R22. To confirm the public’s compliance with the new law, all sales of R22 must be bought 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 right. 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 buy R22, you have to be an EPA-certified technician. So, the typical homeowner can’t purchase a cylinder themselves. In addition, there are some strict regulations now on how refrigerant is reclaimed and recycled, which adds to the cost. This cost is passed on to the homeowner as companies have 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, how will this affect you?

The cost of R22 is considerably increasing because of the dwindling 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 right, it is. This is why when our experts come out to review your unit we check to see what refrigerant your unit uses, and lots of cases, we’ll recommend an upgrade as a result of the increasing cost of maintaining an R22 air conditioner.

How do I know if my unit uses R22?

If your home has 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 unit may not have R22. You can find 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 find it, you can grab your user’s manual. If that doesn’t work either, you can reach out to 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 know by the brand name Puron. In the remainder this article, we’ll use the name R410a (although Puron is a well-known 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 heard of “drop-in” replacements for R22. We strongly recommend against this option. Normally a homeowner who is anxious about the cost of replacing their air conditioner seeks out an alternative, and this appears to be an easy solution. It often costs the homeowner more money, and virtually always voids the manufacturer warranty. The fact about “drop-ins” is that there is no “drop-in” solution where you merely swap out the refrigerant. The phrase “drop-in” is referring to retrofitting a air conditioner, which when done right 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 forces the technician to replace the most expensive components of your system to be compatible with the new refrigerant. If this vital step is avoided, your system will quickly stop running, and you’ll be forced to install a new unit anyway. If you are dead set on exploring this option, then consult with an HVAC company to determine your best alternative.  

Your manufacturer will possibly not pay for the parts to make this transition because retrofitting your AC system will likely void the warranty. It’s usually 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 choices 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 monitor for any manufacturer and utility rebates that would make it easier to manage an unforeseen replacement. To reduce the chances of an emergency on a hot day, a lot of of our customers elect to do a pre-emptive replacement, and replace an old unit before it breaks down. 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 problem 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 wise to check with an HVAC Expert. You can always check for this and the refrigerant type by reviewing 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, especially if it’s older than a decade, you have a few options:

1. Purchase 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 what we recommend.
3. Stick with using recycled R22 and burn cash like it’s the ozone layer.

To be clear, the EPA regulates the production and use of this refrigerant, but not your unit. 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 to buy.

The best option is to get a new, upgraded air conditioner, particularly if your current air conditioner is already more than 10 years old. Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning has many financing options that help to meet your budget, and again, we look out for rebates from HVAC manufacturers and local utilities to make it easier on you. New AC equipment is more efficient and offer you superior comfort, helping to lower your energy costs.

You could also choose the status quo and continue using recycled R22 air conditioning refrigerant for the foreseeable future. While this sounds like a great alternative, the expense 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 sure 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 confirm if you are currently using R22 and, if so, what’s the best next step.

The good news

While making the switch to an approved AC refrigerant may intimidating, it’s helping to save the ozone layer. These regulations will help defend 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 far-fetched 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 contact 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