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 unquestionably incredibly important. Most air conditioning units older than 10 years utilize 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

Fast forward a few decades and 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, initiated 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 launched. By the start of 2010 the production and import of R22 was reduced. However, servicing current, existing equipment is still acceptable as long as 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 are starting to think this is a great topic for an economics professor regarding supply and demand, then you are correct. As you likely understand, 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 reduced 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 average 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 fee is passed on to the homeowner as companies are forced to cover the increased overhead associated with R22 repairs. There are requirements for importing, labeling, record keeping, reporting, destruction and reclaiming of R22 from existing systems.

So, how will this affect 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, “Man, this is starting to sound expensive,” you’re correct, it is. This is why when our technicians come out to inspect your unit we check to see what refrigerant your unit uses, and in the majority of the cases, we’ll recommend an upgrade due to the increasing cost of maintaining an R22 air conditioner.

How do I know if my unit uses R22?

If you have 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 unit may not have R22. You can find the type of refrigerant your system runs on by checking 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 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 immediately if your unit uses R22.

Instead of Freon, use Puron

The industry has changed 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 valuable 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 recommend against this route. Normally 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 nearly always voids the manufacturer warranty. The reality about “drop-ins” is that there is no “drop-in” solution where you merely swap out the refrigerant. The phrase “drop-in” is suggesting retrofitting a unit, which when done properly can cost the homeowner as much, or more, money than installing 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 results in the technician needing to replace the most expensive components of your system to be compatible 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 are dead set on exploring retrofitting, then consult with an HVAC company to determine your best option.  

Your manufacturer will probably 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 buying a new upgraded AC system will probably benefit most homeowners in dependability, satisfaction, and long-term comfort.

It’s wise to discuss pricing options with your HVAC provider if you’re concerned about cost. At Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, we provide financing plans that make a replacement achieveable, and we watch for any manufacturer and utility rebates that would make it easier to manage an unforeseen replacement. To avoid emergencies on a hot day, lots of our customers decide to do a pre-emptive replacement, and replace an old system before it quits working. 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 possible that your system uses the new, approved replacement refrigerant, R410a. However, units 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 review, if your HVAC equipment was produced prior to January 2010, specifically if it’s older than a decade, you have these options:

1. Purchase an upgraded, more environmentally-friendly system that uses R410a.
2. Contact 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 advised.
3. Remain 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 AC. The law doesn’t require you to replace your air conditioner. At some point, your AC will quit running and it will need to be replaced, and only R410a units will be available to buy.

The best option is to buy a new, upgraded air conditioner, especially if your current air conditioner is already more than 10 years old. Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning has many 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 give you superior comfort, helping to lower your energy costs.

You could also pick the status quo and continue using recycled R22 air conditioning refrigerant for the foreseeable future. While this sounds like a great alternative, the price 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 climb as demand continues to rise on a substance that is no longer produced or widely available.

If you aren’t sure what type of AC refrigerant your air conditioning system uses, we can help. Contact Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning today and we can provide an inspection to find out if you are currently using R22 and, if so, which option works best for you.

The good news

While making the switch to an approved AC refrigerant may stressful, 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 implausible 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 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