After 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), together with many similar agencies internationally, determined that R22 refrigerant, commonly known as Freon, should be phased out. R22 refrigerant was previously the standard for air conditioners, but its use has since been greatly reduced. In fact, in 2010 there were 110 million pounds of R22 refrigerant in the US — by 2013 that was reduced to 39 million.
Right now, the EPA plans to keep reducing this amount to 13 million pounds this year. It has meant a big change for the HVAC industry and homeowners, but with the right information, you can make sure you are no longer using R22 refrigerant, and that you do not lose too much money in the changeover. If you are not sure whether your air conditioner uses this refrigerant, get in touch with the heating & air conditioning experts at Galmiche & Sons in St. Louis today, and we can help.
What is R22 Refrigerant and Why Was It Banned?
R22 refrigerant — better known by the brand name Freon — was the standard refrigerant used in air conditioners and other appliances until the EPA determined it was partly responsible for ozone damage in the 1970’s. This ozone damage is tied to higher temperatures as well as increased UV radiation, which can cause skin cancer and other issues. So, the EPA is calling to phasing out the use of R22 refrigerant in old machines, with the goal of reducing R22 use by 99.5% by 2020. As we get closer to that phase-out date, it is important to know whether you will be affected, and what this means for your HVAC system.
Does Your Air Conditioner Use R22?
Since 2010, the use of R22 has been banned in the manufacture of new machines, with machines made after 2010 using the coolant R-410A instead. The problem is that machines bought before 2010 may still be using R22 refrigerant. So, that means that simply recharging your system with refrigerant may no longer be possible (or may be much more costly), and you might need to replace your air conditioner if it was made before 2010 and is using R22 refrigerant. An HVAC professional can help you determine if your system does use R22, and can recommend new systems that don’t.
Why Switching Now Can Help You Save
It may seem counterintuitive that replacing your air conditioner before it stops working could help you save money, but it might! One reason for this is that as R22 is phased out, it has become prohibitively expensive. Replacing the refrigerant in your air conditioner becomes more common as the system ages and you deal with leaks and breakdowns. That replacement can be very costly if your system uses R22, as the cost of this coolant has quadrupled in the past year alone and only looks to be increasing.
Furthermore, the EPA recognizes that asking people to switch over their systems is difficult, so there are a few programs to offer discounts and rebates on newer systems that do not use R22 refrigerant. This is especially true if you upgrade to an energy efficient model that will use less power as well. As a bonus, these energy efficient models also cut down on your energy bills — after all, they are using less power to get the same results. So, there are a lot of reasons to switch now, and it might even be a net financial gain for you.
Learn More About the Use of R22 Refrigerant
To learn more or discuss your options for air conditioner replacement, get in touch with the St. Louis heating & air conditioning experts at Galmiche & Sons today.
