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 certainly incredibly important. 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 blog, 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, 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 considered 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 was reduced. However, servicing current, existing equipment is still allowed if there is an available supply of R22. To confirm the public’s compliance with the new law, all sales of R22 must be acquired by a certified technician R22 refrigerant will be available to service existing air conditioners after 2020.
So how does this affect prices?
If this sounds like a case study on supply and demand, then you are on the right track. As you likely understand, older air conditioners could more frequently experience leaks and need repairs. Any systems 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 increased due to scarcity.
Remember that in order to buy R22, you must be an EPA-certified technician. So, the typical homeowner can’t purchase a cylinder themselves. Plus, there are some stern regulations now on how refrigerant should be reclaimed and recycled, which adds to the cost. This expense 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 units.
So, how does this impact 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, excluding recycled quantities.
If you’re thinking, “Wow, this is starting to sound expensive,” you’re right, it is. This is why when our experts come out to inspect your unit we make sure to see what refrigerant your unit uses, and in the majority of the cases, we’ll advise an upgrade because of the increasing cost of sustaining 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 typically found on the outdoor condenser of your central air conditioning system. If you don’t find it, you can grab your user’s manual. If that doesn’t work either, 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 quickly if your unit uses R22.
Instead of Freon, use Puron
The industry has made the switch 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 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 provides a higher safety rating tests than R22.
You may have heard information about “drop-in” replacements for R22. We strongly against against this option. Typically a homeowner who is uneasy about the cost of replacing their air conditioner 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 truth about “drop-ins” is that there is no “drop-in” solution where you simply swap out the refrigerant. The phrase “drop-in” is suggesting retrofitting a air conditioner, which when done right can cost the homeowner as much, or more, money than installing a new unit that uses R410a. In part, this is because different refrigerants work at different pressure levels and require 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 critical step is avoided, your system will quickly stop working, and you’ll end up installing a new unit anyway. If you insist on exploring drop-ins, then consult with an HVAC specialist to determine your best alternative.
Your manufacturer will probably 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 smart to discuss pricing options with your HVAC provider if you’re worried about cost. At Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, we have financing available that makes a replacement achieveable, and we keep track of any manufacturer and utility rebates that would make it easier to handle an unforeseen replacement. To reduce the chances of an emergency on a hot day, lots of our customers decide to do a pre-emptive replacement, and replace an old system before it doesn’t work. If you’re of a similar mind, 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 probably that your system uses the new, approved replacement refrigerant, R410a. However, units installed after 2010 could still use R22, so it’s ideal to check with an HVAC Expert. You can always check for this and the refrigerant type by checking 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, especially if it’s older than a decade, you have some options:
- Purchase an upgraded, more environmentally-friendly system that uses R410a.
- Reach out to 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.
- 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 unit. 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 to purchase.
The most straightforward option is to get 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 help you out. New AC equipment can be more efficient and offer you superior comfort, helping to reduce 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 nice 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 increase as demand continues to rise on a substance that is no longer produced or widely available.
If you aren’t aware of what type of AC refrigerant your air conditioning system uses, we can help. Call Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing today and we can provide an inspection to find out 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 be frustrating, 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 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
