The phasing out of R22 Refrigerant: What You Need To Know

The phasing out of R22 Refrigerant: What You Need To Know

R22 is a refrigerant commonly known as Freon. It was and is still being used in many home and commercial air conditioning systems as a coolant; however, it is in the process of being phased out in favor of the more environmentally friendly coolant option, R410A.

Now may be the best time to consider investing in the new, more environmentally-friendly and cost-effective air conditioning systems. But first, let’s understand why.

In 1987, the United States signed an international environmental agreement, which outlined a plan to phase out the use of R22. Essentially, the provisions were to completely phase out R22 by the year 2030.

So, while we still have ten years to go until the complete phase out, there are important considerations if your air conditioning system still uses R22. Here are a few things you need to know about this phase-out as these changes take effect this year.

Since 2010, all new air conditioners and air conditioning equipment has been required to use R410A instead of R22. This was the first phase in the eventual phase out.

The second phase occurs now, in the year 2020, where R22 is now illegal to produce. What does that mean for you and your home or commercial air conditioning system? Well, you don’t necessarily have to replace your entire system right away. If it was purchased prior to the 2010 regulation, and it still uses R22, Freon, you can still use it; however, you may find it is more expensive (although not impossible) to replenish your cooling system. And, since it is now illegal to produce, the supply will become even more hard to find.

So, if you’re air conditioning system still uses R22, now is the best time to look into replacing your air conditioning system. Consider how frequently you need your current air conditioning system serviced? Depending on how often you need service, you could be throwing money away. At Russell’s Heating and Air Conditioning, our team of experts can assess your needs and work with you to determine the best air conditioning system for your home or business. And, we can recommend models that are the most energy-efficient to save you time and money.

R22 will be completely phased out in just ten short years, by the year 2030. Contact Russell’s Heating and Air Conditioning today for a free consultation. We will evaluate your current air conditioning system and make a professional recommendation to replace it with a new air conditioner system that is ideal for your home or business.