{"id":2569,"date":"2019-08-14T08:16:18","date_gmt":"2019-08-14T12:16:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conditionedair.com\/blog\/?p=2569"},"modified":"2025-09-19T05:51:17","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T09:51:17","slug":"the-end-of-r22-what-it-means-for-your-old-air-conditioner-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conditionedair.com\/blog\/air-conditioning-service\/the-end-of-r22-what-it-means-for-your-old-air-conditioner-2\/","title":{"rendered":"THE END OF R22: WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOUR OLD AIR CONDITIONER"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Florida homeowners with older air conditioning systems may soon be facing a difficult choice: replace their entire air conditioning system or continue to pursue increasingly costly and hard-to-find <span data-scaytid=\"1\" data-scayt_word=\"R22\">R22<\/span> refrigerant when it\u2019s time for <span data-scaytid=\"2\" data-scayt_word=\"ACs\">AC ser<\/span>vice. For many, the smarter option is upgrading to newer technology, such as<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conditionedair.com\/blog\/air-conditioning-service\/is-a-ductless-mini-split-a-good-idea-for-your-garage-or-home-addition\/\"> ductless mini split systems for additions<\/a>. Standards for types of refrigerants used in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conditionedair.com\/services\/air-conditioning\/repair\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">air conditioning repair<\/a> and <a data-cke-saved-href=\"https:\/\/www.conditionedair.com\/blog\/best-practices-for-air-conditioner-maintenance\/\" href=\"https:\/\/www.conditionedair.com\/services\/maintenance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">maintenance<\/a> are changing, and this\u00a0means that this\u00a0most common and least expensive refrigerant will soon be phased out. When the phase-out is complete in 2020, <span data-scaytid=\"3\" data-scayt_word=\"R22\">R22<\/span> refrigerant will no longer be available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Why replacing your old AC may be better than maintaining R\u201122 refrigerant?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>R\u201122 refrigerant is being phased out due to environmental rules; no new R22 can be produced.<\/li><li>As R\u201122 becomes scarce, its price rises and availability becomes limited, making maintenance increasingly expensive.<\/li><li>Old units using R\u201122 often are less efficient than modern units that use newer refrigerants like R\u2011410A.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conditionedair.com\/blog\/air-conditioning-service\/the-end-of-r22-what-it-means-for-your-old-air-conditioner-2\/\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li>Replacing the entire AC system with one designed for compliant refrigerants is often more cost\u2011effective in the long run than repeated R\u201122 recharges and repairs.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-scaytid=\"5\" data-scayt_word=\"R22\">R22<\/span> refrigerant, sometimes known as <span data-scaytid=\"6\" data-scayt_word=\"R22\">R22<\/span> <span data-scaytid=\"15\" data-scayt_word=\"Freon\">Freon<\/span> or <span data-scaytid=\"17\" data-scayt_word=\"HCFC-22\">HCFC-22<\/span> <span data-scaytid=\"16\" data-scayt_word=\"Freon\">Freon<\/span>, is an environmental danger because it contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer. The U.S. government has placed restrictions on <span data-scaytid=\"7\" data-scayt_word=\"R22\">R22<\/span> and has issued the requirement\u00a0that <span data-scaytid=\"8\" data-scayt_word=\"R22\">R22<\/span> refrigerant must be eliminated from use in cooling systems by the year 2020, making regular maintenance tasks like<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conditionedair.com\/blog\/air-conditioning-service\/reminder-change-your-filters\/\"> changing your air filters<\/a> even more important for system efficiency. At this point, <span data-scaytid=\"9\" data-scayt_word=\"R22\">R22<\/span> will no longer be manufactured and cannot be used as a refrigerant in new <a data-cke-saved-href=\"https:\/\/www.conditionedair.com\/services\" href=\"https:\/\/www.conditionedair.com\/services\/air-conditioning\/ac-installation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">air conditioning<\/a> systems. <span data-scaytid=\"18\" data-scayt_word=\"R22\">R22<\/span> is being replaced by <span data-scaytid=\"20\" data-scayt_word=\"R-410A\">R-410A<\/span>, a safer material which is the current, compliant standard refrigerant in air conditioning equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The refrigerant change means several things for homeowners with older <span data-scaytid=\"21\" data-scayt_word=\"ACs\">ACs<\/span>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>You can continue to use <span data-scaytid=\"22\" data-scayt_word=\"R22\">R22<\/span> refrigerant in existing systems, but it will only be available through after-market sales, such as when it is recovered from older systems that have been salvaged.<\/li><li>Prices of <span data-scaytid=\"25\" data-scayt_word=\"R22\">R22<\/span> refrigerant have been rising and are expected to continue to rise. By the time the phase-out is complete, <span data-scaytid=\"26\" data-scayt_word=\"R22\">R22<\/span> will most likely be very expensive. Even if you need a recharge of R22 in the future, there can be no guarantee that the refrigerant will be available, especially as<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conditionedair.com\/blog\/air-conditioning-service\/summertime-temperatures-are-heating-up\/\"> summertime temperatures continue rising<\/a>.<\/li><li>Availability of <span data-scaytid=\"29\" data-scayt_word=\"R22\">R22<\/span> will be limited since it cannot be purchased new. Even if you need a recharge of <span data-scaytid=\"30\" data-scayt_word=\"R22\">R22<\/span> in the future, there can be no guarantee that the refrigerant will be available.<\/li><li>Complete air conditioning system replacement to an <span data-scaytid=\"33\" data-scayt_word=\"R422\">R422<\/span> model may be the most cost-effective solution.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Question: What is R\u201122 refrigerant and why is it being phased out?<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong><strong>Answer:<\/strong> R\u201122 (also known as Freon or HCFC\u201122) is a refrigerant commonly used in older air conditioning systems. It is being phased out because it depletes the ozone layer and contributes to environmental harm. Regulations require its production to stop and its use to be restricted.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conditionedair.com\/blog\/air-conditioning-installation\/the-end-of-r22-what-it-means-for-your-old-air-conditioner\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Question: Is it still legal to use R\u201122 in existing air conditioning units?<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong><strong>Answer:<\/strong> Yes. Existing AC units that use R\u201122 can still operate and be serviced, but R\u201122 is no longer manufactured or imported. Only recovered or recycled R\u201122 is available, which tends to be more expensive and less easily sourced.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conditionedair.com\/blog\/air-conditioning-installation\/the-end-of-r22-what-it-means-for-your-old-air-conditioner\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Question: What are the cost implications of continuing with an R\u201122 AC system?<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong><strong>Answer:<\/strong> Costs tend to rise because R\u201122 supply is limited. Repairing leaks, recharging refrigerant, or maintaining such systems becomes more costly. Over time, these rising service costs can make keeping an old system less economical than replacing it.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conditionedair.com\/blog\/air-conditioning-installation\/the-end-of-r22-what-it-means-for-your-old-air-conditioner\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Question: Can I retrofit my old R\u201122 air conditioner to use a newer refrigerant?<br>Answer:<\/strong> In some cases it may be possible to retrofit, but there are limitations. Differences in system design, oil types, and compatibility can make retrofits costly, less efficient, or technically impractical. It\u2019s not always guaranteed or cost\u2011effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Question: When is it more sensible to replace an R\u201122 AC unit rather than keep repairing it?<br>Answer:<\/strong> It\u2019s generally more sensible to replace when the unit is older (often over 10\u201115 years), requires frequent repairs, has major component failures, or if the costs of maintaining R\u201122 and its parts outweigh the benefits. Also when energy efficiency and environmental compliance are priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conditionedair.com\/\">Conditioned Air<\/a> has the mission of keeping the residents of Ft. Myers, Sarasota, Naples, Bradenton, and the surrounding Florida communities cool and their air conditioners working properly and reliably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Contact us today for more information on the types of refrigerants used in air conditioning system maintenance and what the new refrigerant changes will mean for your cooling system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"What is R\u201122 refrigerant and why is it being phased out?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"R\u201122 (also known as Freon or HCFC\u201122) is a refrigerant commonly used in older air conditioning systems. It is being phased out because it depletes the ozone layer and contributes to environmental harm. 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For many, the smarter option is upgrading to newer technology, such as ductless mini split systems for additions. Standards [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[70,94],"tags":[39,282,283,140,48,284,285],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conditionedair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2569"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conditionedair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conditionedair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conditionedair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conditionedair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2569"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.conditionedair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2569\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":228895,"href":"https:\/\/www.conditionedair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2569\/revisions\/228895"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conditionedair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2569"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conditionedair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2569"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conditionedair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2569"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}