Beginning January 1, 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency will no longer produce R-22, also known as “Freon.” So Freon is soon to be discontinued. R410A (also known as Puron) is the newer refrigerant. Older systems that use R-22, which has been around for decades, could be on their last leg. You have an older system, the average life span is about 10-15 years, so you have a system that’s maybe nearing the end of its life anyways so you don’t want to be caught off guard by having it just fail.
Currently R-22 is running at about $200 per pound. As the supply continues to fall the price will continue to rise!
The key parts of the ETA timeline remaining are:
- January 1, 2020 Ban on remaining production and import of HCFC-22 and HCFC-142b. After 2020, the servicing of systems with R-22 will rely on recycled or stockpiled quantities
- January 1, 2030 Ban on remaining production and import of all HCFCs
So, How Will This Affect You?
The cost of R22 is dramatically 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 correct, it is. This is why when our technicians at Bayside Heating and Air Conditioning, 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. We will help you pick out the best unit to replace yours.
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 likely 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 looking at the appliance’s nameplate. This nameplate is typically found on the outdoor condenser of your central air conditioning system. If you can’t find it, you can grab your user’s manual. If that doesn’t work either, you can reach out to your local HVAC experts at Bayside Heating and Air Conditioning 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
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:
- Buy an upgraded, a more environmentally-friendly system that uses R410a.
- 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 recommended.
- Stick with 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 system. You aren’t required by law 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 most straightforward option is to buy a new, upgraded air conditioner, especially if your current air conditioner is already more than 10 years old. Bayside Heating & Air Conditioning has many financing options that help make the purchase affordable, and again, we lookout for rebates from HVAC manufacturers and local utilities to make it easier on you. New AC equipment can be more efficient and give you superior comfort, helping to lower your energy costs.
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727.669.4300