r22 refrigerant If you have air conditioning equipment that is more than ten years old, it may contain R-22 refrigerant. This substance has been banned from production and import in the United States due to its harmful effects on the ozone. Because of the ban, equipment that uses R-22 refrigerant is becoming more difficult and expensive to service and repair.

After decades of use in the residential and commercial refrigeration industry, scientists realized that the refrigerant commonly known as “Freon” was causing ozone layer damage. The ozone helps protect the surface of the Earth from UV rays. Because of the need to preserve the ozone, the EPA joined other international agencies to create the Montreal Protocol. This protocol worked in stages to phase out the use of Freon and by January 1st, 2020, the import and production of R-22 was no longer legal in the United States.

Today HVAC technicians that work with R-22 have to be certified by the EPA to do so, and have to dispose of R-22 correctly since it is considered hazardous waste. There are now only recycled supplies of R-22 left, meaning that it is now more costly to have the older equipment serviced.

r22 refrigerant To determine if your system uses R-22 refrigerant, you should take a look at the nameplate or the owner’s manual. The nameplate is typically a sticker or a metal plate that is located somewhere on the AC condenser. Most AC unit nameplates will either state that they use R410-A (a newer and ozone safe refrigerant), or they will use R-22. You can also have an HVAC technician determine which refrigerant your system uses.

It is not illegal to own equipment that contains R-22. If your equipment contains Freon, it does not mean that you need to replace it. However, you should consider the environmental impact of older equipment that is more at risk of a refrigerant leak. If Freon leaks out of the system, it will escape into the atmosphere. We strongly encourage annual servicing for all HVAC equipment but it is especially important for older equipment. The HVAC technician may be able to identify a small problem with the system and repair it before it becomes a larger problem that could result in a refrigerant leak.

Another reason to consider upgrading older equipment is to reduce energy bills. New AC units are significantly more efficient than equipment that was manufactured over a decade ago. You may see savings of 20 to 40 percent if you purchase a new, high-efficiency AC unit or heat pump.