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 read up. R22 refrigerant is a chemical that keeps the air coming from your air conditioning system cool, so it’s certainly incredibly important. Most air conditioning units older than 10 years use an AC refrigerant called R22 that’s commonly identified as Freon*, and is noted by the EPA as HCFC-22. In this blog, 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

Moving ahead a few decades the world realized that R22 refrigerant was aiding in the depletion of the Earth’s ozone layer. Not a great thing. So, the U.S. EPA, in cooperation with other agencies and groups around the world, started a phase out of several 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 early 2010 the production and import of R22 became prohibited. However, servicing current, existing equipment is still acceptable 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 accessible 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 on the right track. As you can imagine, older air conditioners could more frequently experience leaks and need repairs. Any air conditioners 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 gone up due to scarcity.

Don’t forget that in order to buy R22, you must be an EPA-certified technician. So, the average homeowner can’t purchase a cylinder themselves. In addition, there are some firm regulations now on how refrigerant must be reclaimed and recycled, which increases expenses. This cost is passed on to the homeowner as companies must cover the increased overhead connected to R22 repairs. There are requirements for importing, labeling, record keeping, reporting, destruction and reclaiming of R22 from existing air conditioners.

So, how does this impact you?

The cost of R22 is radically increasing because of the declining supply, and new refrigerant will no longer be available for use at all after 2020, with the exception of 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 assess your unit we make sure to see what refrigerant your unit uses, and in the majority of the cases, we’ll recommend an upgrade as a result of the increasing cost of taking care of 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 probably have R22. However, if you installed your air conditioner after January 1, 2010, then your air conditioner may not have R22. You can find the type of refrigerant your system runs on by reading the appliance’s nameplate. This nameplate is normally found on the outdoor condenser of your central air conditioning system. If you can’t locate it, you can read your user’s manual. Alternatively, 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 right away if your unit uses R22.

Instead of Freon, use Puron

The industry has moved from R22 to R410a, which you may recognize 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 serious benefits to switching from an R22 air conditioning unit to one that uses R410a. It has a higher safety rating tests than R22.

You may have read about “drop-in” replacements for R22. We strongly recommend against this choice. Usually a homeowner who is anxious about the cost of replacing their system seeks out an alternative, and this sounds like an easy solution. It typically costs the homeowner more money, and virtually 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 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 work at different pressure levels and demand different parts to run, which results in the technician needing to replace the most expensive components of your system to work with the new refrigerant. If this vital step is skipped, your system will quickly stop operating, 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 alternative.  

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

It’s smart to discuss pricing offers with your HVAC provider if you’re concerned about cost. At Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, we provide financing plans that make a replacement affordable, and we watch for 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 choose to do a pre-emptive replacement, and replace an old system 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 problem 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 best to check with an HVAC Expert. You can always look for 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 recap, 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. Call an expert to replace the parts in your current AC system to help make it compatible with an approved air conditioner refrigerant. This is not what we recommend.
3. Remain 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 system. The law doesn’t require you to replace your air conditioner. Eventually, your AC will stop working and it will need to be replaced, and only R410a units will be available for sale.

The most straightforward 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 help you out. New AC equipment will also be more efficient and give you superior comfort, helping to lower 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 cost 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 grow 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, let us help. Call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning today and we can provide an inspection to determine if you are currently using R22 and, if so, what you can do.

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 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 far-fetched to say that you, as a homeowner, are a big part of this by replacing an old R22 unit with a newer, ozone friendly unit.

If you have any questions, please use 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