The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been phasing out the use of R22 refrigerant, or Freon, in an act that is phasing out products that are proven to deplete the ozone layer. By 2020, the production of R22 will be stopped in the US, which could cause problems for air conditioners made before 2010. Newer air conditioners use R410a refrigerant, an environmentally friendly option that might not be compatible for older air conditioners. With this change, the cost of adding Freon to older air conditioners will be expensive. Repairs and the new expense to Freon will build up quickly. In these cases, replacing your air conditioner to a newer model will be more cost efficient and lower your energy bills in the long run.
What is R22?
R22 is a refrigerant with the chemical formula CHClF2 or Chlorodifluoromethane. It is a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC).
How do I know if my system has R22 in it?
If it hasn’t already been brought to your attention by your service engineer, or you don’t have an asset list which will document the refrigerant in your systems, you can check for yourself by looking for an information plate on your system’s condensing unit. The condensing unit is the part of the system that is usually outside. And the data plate, usually located towards the bottom or side of the outdoor unit.
My system HAS got R22 in it — Is this illegal?
No. It’s not illegal to have a system with R22 in it, you can even use your system with R22 in it. You just can’t have it repaired. A service engineer can clean and maintain the unit, but he may not add any gas to it. This means that as soon as the system has a problem it becomes obselete and can not be repaired.
What are the benefits of replacing my R22 system now?
Air conditioning systems installed before 2004 are approaching the end of their usable lifetime, typically around 15 years with regular maintenance. Modern air conditioning systems come with huge advantages. They are smaller, quieter, more stylish and are 50% more efficient than those that operate using R22. Replacement solutions come with competitive payback periods, often just 2–3 years, and result in immediate improvements in performance. Replacement is also an opportunity to improve your organisation’s environmental credentials. Modern refrigerants, such as R32 and R410a, have a much lower impact on global warming than R22, while modern systems consume less energy and can considerably reduce your carbon footprint.These benefits and cost savings will continue throughout your new system’s lifetime, especially with regular maintenance, which will extend your systems parts & labour guarantee.
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