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Posted on February 22, 2018 by

Why Your R22 Air Conditioning System Will Soon Be Illegal – And What You Can Do About It

Choices

If you are a homeowner or business owner that relies on an older R22 air conditioner to keep you cool in the heat of summer, this post is for you. For those that have become accustomed to calling for a refrigerant top-up every time your system starts acting up, things are about to change. In the not-too-distant future, it will be illegal in the United States to simply add more refrigerant to your R22, and the model will no longer be manufactured.

When and Why?

The important date to keep in mind is January 1, 2020. This is when the refrigerant used in the R22, known as Freon, will become illegal. Due to its harmful environmental effects, Freon is gradually being phased out around the world, and January 1, 2020, is the date chosen by the US Environmental Protection Agency for implementation in the US. Once the deadline date has passed, the R22 can no longer be manufactured in, or imported to the United States.

Options for R22 Owners

While helping save the ozone layer is important work, owners of the R22 still have to figure out what to do next. After the deadline, a refrigerant leak means you have no recourse when it comes to repairs. Any repair that requires the technician to recharge the refrigerant will no longer be possible, but you do have options and now is the best time to create a plan of action.

Once January 1, 2020, deadline comes, you can:

  • Leave your R22 in place and keep using it until it breaks down entirely
  • Explore the possibility of retrofitting your R22 to use an approved refrigerant
  • Replace your system with something more modern

Important Factors to Consider

ConsiderWhile many R22 owners will want to just leave their current system in until it sputters away to nothing, and many will be intrigued by the retrofitting possibility, we should note that a replacement is likely the best long-term option.

Not every R22 system can be converted to accept new refrigerant, so you will need a technician to come in and inspect your equipment.

And leaving your old one in there is just delaying the inevitable. You can still have your R22 repaired and have the refrigerant topped up between now and the deadline, but availability may become an issue if a lot of people are thinking the same way.

Benefits of Off-Season Replacement

Whether to spend money on a system that is bound for obscurity or not is a decision only you can make, but there is an argument to made for having your R22 replaced during the off-season. Typically, new units are more affordable when the weather is cooler, and you can just put the whole Freon deadline, illegal AC issue out of your mind.

It’s also wise to consider that the demand for new systems will likely skyrocket once the deadline hits. If your old system finally breaks down during 2019, you may end up with a lengthy wait for air conditioning. Surprises are the last thing any homeowner or business owner wants when it comes to their AC systems, and now that you know what’s coming you can be prepared and make the best decision for your needs.