R22 is Phasing Out
In 2016 we told you about the R22 phase out and with warmer temperatures approaching, Stevenson Service Experts wanted to remind you of your courses of action.
RECAP:
If you have air conditioning equipment installed earlier than 2010, it probably uses R22 refrigerant, which is what keeps the air coming from your air conditioner cool and pleasant. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began phasing out R22 refrigerant in recent years because it was contributing to the depletion of the Earth’s ozone layer.
Beginning in 2010, the manufacturing and importing of R22 was prohibited and by 2020, R22 will pretty much no longer be allowed.
HIGHLIGHTS:
R22 refrigerant is no longer manufactured in North America.
You can purchase recycled R22 now for existing air conditioning systems that use this specific refrigerant.
The cost of R22 is going up because of the dropping supply, and will no longer be accessible for use at all by 2020.
GOT IT? GOOD! SO WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?
If your AC equipment was manufactured after January 2010, the R22 refrigerant phase-out probably doesn’t apply to you. However, if your AC equipment was manufactured before January 2010, you have a few options:
1) Buy an upgraded, more environmentally-friendly system, which can use the approved air conditioner refrigerant.
2) Call a professional to replace the parts in your current AC equipment to help make it compatible with approved A/C refrigerant. However, this is not recommended because it could nullify your warranty(ies).
3) Stick with using recycled R22 until 2020.
READY TO BE DONE WITH IT?
If you don’t want to panic about the issue of your refrigerant being phased-out, or you don’t want to agonize about the increasing costs of said refrigerant, or you just want to improve the environment with a non-ozone destroying refrigerant, call Stevenson Service Experts today and we’ll come out and provide you a no-charge in-home estimate on a new air conditioning system, just in time for spring!