In 2016 we told you about the R22 phase out and with cooling season approaching, Golden Seal Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning wanted to remind you of your options.
RECAP:
If you have an air conditioner installed prior to 2010, it most likely uses R22 refrigerant, which is what makes the air coming from your air conditioner cool and comfortable. The EPA began phasing out R22 refrigerant in recent years because it was compounding the depletion of the Earth’s ozone layer.
Starting in 2010, the production and import of R22 was prohibited and by 2020, R22 will basically no longer be allowed.
HIGHLIGHTS:
R22 refrigerant is no longer produced in North America.
You can obtain recycled R22 now for existing air conditioning systems that use this certain refrigerant.
The cost of R22 is increasing because of the decreasing supply, and won’t be obtainable for use at all by 2020.
GOT IT? GOOD! SO WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?
If your AC equipment was made after January 2010, the R22 refrigerant phase-out probably won’t affect you. However, if your air conditioner was produced before January 2010, you have a few options:
1) Invest in an upgraded, more environmentally-friendly system, which can use the approved air conditioner refrigerant.
2) Call an HVAC company to replace the parts in your current air conditioner to help make it compatible with approved AC refrigerant. Keep in mind, this is not recommended because it could invalidate your warranty(ies).
3) Keep using recycled R22 until 2020.
READY TO BE DONE WITH IT?
If you don’t want to panic about the trouble of your refrigerant being phased-out, or you don’t want to worry about the soaring costs of said refrigerant, or you just want to improve the environment with a non-ozone destroying refrigerant, call Golden Seal Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning today and we’ll come out and provide you a no-charge in-home estimate on a new air conditioner, just in time for spring!