We told you last summer about the R22 phase out and with warmer temperatures approaching, Stevenson Service Experts wanted to remind you of your options.
RECAP:
If you have air conditioning equipment installed prior to 2010, it likely uses R22 refrigerant, which is what causes the air coming from your air conditioner to be cool and comfy. The [[U.S. Environmental Protection Agency]9] began phasing out R22 refrigerant in recent years because it was compounding the depletion of the Earth’s ozone layer.
Beginning in 2010, the making and importing of R22 was prohibited and by 2020, R22 will essentially no longer be allowed.
HIGHLIGHTS:
R22 refrigerant is no longer produced in North America.
You can get recycled R22 now for existing air conditioners that use this certain refrigerant.
The cost of R22 is increasing because of the reducing supply, and won’t be available for use at all by 2020.
GOT IT? GOOD! SO WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?
If your air conditioner was produced after January 2010, the R22 refrigerant phase-out probably doesn’t apply to you. However, if your air conditioning system was manufactured before January 2010, you have a couple options:
1) Buy 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 conditioning system to help make it compatible with approved AC refrigerant. Understand, though, this is not recommended because it could nullify your warranty(ies).
3) Continue to use recycled R22 until 2020.
READY TO BE DONE WITH IT?
If you don’t want to panic about the hassle 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 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!