In 2016 we told you about the R22 phase out and with cooling season approaching, Chief/Bauer Service Experts wanted to remind you of your options.
RECAP:
If you have air conditioning equipment installed earlier than 2010, it likely uses R22 refrigerant, which is what causes the air coming from your air conditioner to be cool and comfy. The [[U.S. Environmental Protection Agency]9] began phasing out R22 refrigerant in recent years because it was compounding the depletion of the Earth’s ozone layer.
Beginning in 2010, the making and importing of R22 was prohibited and by 2020, R22 will pretty much no longer be allowed.
HIGHLIGHTS:
R22 refrigerant is no longer made in North America.
You can obtain recycled R22 now for existing air conditioning systems that use this certain refrigerant.
The cost of R22 is going up because of the decreasing supply, and will not be available for use at all by 2020.
GOT IT? GOOD! SO WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?
If your air conditioner was produced after January 2010, the R22 refrigerant phase-out probably doesn’t apply to you. However, if your air conditioning system was manufactured before January 2010, you have a couple options:
1) Invest in an upgraded, more environmentally-friendly system, which requires the approved air conditioner refrigerant.
2) Call a professional to replace the parts in your current AC equipment to help make it compatible with approved A/C refrigerant. However, this is not recommended because it could nullify your warranty(ies).
3) Stick with using recycled R22 until 2020.
READY TO BE DONE WITH IT?
If you don’t want to stress about the issue of your refrigerant being phased-out, or you don’t want to agonize about the increasing costs of said refrigerant, or you just want to love the environment with a non-ozone destroying refrigerant, call Chief/Bauer Service Experts today and we’ll come out and provide you a no-charge in-home estimate on a new air conditioner, just in time for spring!