If your home uses an air conditioning system that was manufactured prior to 2010, then there’s a good chance that it uses R22 refrigerant, an ozone-depleting substance (ODS).
And if your system does use R22 refrigerant, then you may be in for an unpleasant surprise the next time your system requires service.
As of January 1, 2020, the production and import of R22 refrigerant into the United States was banned.
This does NOT mean that you are required to replace your system if it uses R-22 refrigerant. It does mean that it may cost more to service a system with R-22 because the cost of R-22 refrigerant may increase.
This is because R22 will be more difficult to obtain since it is no longer being produced and the inventory will be decreasing. However, the increase in price may be moderated by the fact that there will be fewer and fewer units that use R-22.
In some cases, it may be more cost-effective to replace your system rather than servicing it.
What is Refrigerant?
The refrigerant in your air conditioner or heat pump is the fluid that flows inside the coils and moves heat. It either moves heat from inside to the outside of the home if you are running the air conditioner, or it moves heat from outside to the inside of the home if you are running your heat pump in the heating mode.
How Does Air Conditioning Work?
With the help of your system’s compressor, condenser and evaporator, the refrigerant is compressed to a high pressure, or “flashed” to a low pressure causing it to transform physically between liquid and gas states. As a result of these changes of state, the refrigerant becomes hotter or colder depending on which state (liquid or gas) it is in.
Cooling – In a certain place in the system, the refrigerant passes through a small hole and, as a result, its pressure drops instantaneously. Due to this pressure drop, the refrigerant becomes much colder. (This is similar to spraying an aerosol can. When you spray the liquid from the can, you can often feel the can getting cold.)
Now this cold refrigerant can absorb heat from the air in the home as the air is blown over the evaporator coils. As a result, the air is cooled. This cool air is then blown throughout the home to make the home more comfortable.
Heating (Heat Pump systems only) – The refrigerant goes through the compressor which significantly increases the pressure of the refrigerant. As the refrigerant is compressed, it gets much hotter.
Now this hot refrigerant can give off some of its heat to the air as the air passes over the evaporator coils. As a result, the air is warmed. This warm air is then blown throughout the home, thus warming the home.
NOTE: A standard (non-heat pump) electric furnace does not use refrigerant. It uses heat strips similar to an electric clothes dryer or hair dryer.
What’s the Difference Between R-22 and R-410A
R22 is the refrigerant that has been used in most A/C systems since the 1950s. It is commonly called Freon.
R-22 is a hydrochlorofluorocarbon, which the EPA has concluded is bad for the environment because it contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer. Due to its detrimental effects on the environment, it is being phased out.
R-410A, also called Puron, is the refrigerant which is the main replacement for R22. Since R-410A is not a hydrochlorofluorocarbon, it is much less harmful to the environment.
There are some other important differences between these two refrigerants.
- R410A runs at a higher pressure than R22 does, so a system designed for R22 cannot use R410A. If you put R410A into an R22 system, then the compressor and other components could rupture – completely ruining the system.
- R410A is able to absorb more heat than R22 refrigerant. This ability to absorb more heat means that systems using R410A refrigerant can operate more efficiently than systems using R22.
See the table below for a short summary of the differences between the two refrigerants
|
R-22 |
R-410A |
| A hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) so it can lead to depletion of the ozone layer of the atmosphere | A hydro-fluorocarbon (HFC) that does not contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer. |
| Often called Freon | Often called Puron |
| Operates at a lower pressure than R410A | Operates at a higher pressure than R22 |
| Absorbs less heat than R410A | Absorbs more heat than R22 so it is more efficient |
| Used since 1950s. Being phased out | Used since early 2000s. Being implemented on most new systems |
| Expensive | Less expensive than R22 |
Can R22 and R410 Be Combined?
Due to their differences, R22 and R410A refrigerants cannot be mixed. They operate at different pressures, and they use different lubricating oils which makes them incompatible with each other.
What Refrigerant Does My Air Conditioner Use?
If your AC or heat pump was built and installed before January 1, 2010, there’s a good chance that it uses R22 refrigerant.
Your equipment should have a label that identifies the type of refrigerant type used.
To determine what refrigerant is in your system, go outside and locate your air conditioning unit, the condenser unit.
Find the label, and look for something that says HCFC, R22, R410A, HFC or something similar.
(Sometimes that label has worn to the point where it cannot be read, or it has peeled off altogether. If this is the case with your system and you can’t read the label, then it is likely an older system that contains R22 refrigerant.)
This will tell you if you have R22 or R410A. “HCFC 22” is the same as R22, and HFC refers to R410A.
See some examples below.
How Much Does R-22 Refrigerant Cost?
R-22 cost about $55/lb in the Central Texas area in January of 2021. Read below for additional information on the cost.
I have read a lot of posts online that were written over the last ten years or so. Most of these posts predicted that the cost of R-22 refrigerant was going to get outrageously expensive – perhaps five to ten times what it cost in 2010.
Below is a graph showing the historical price of R22 refrigerant (solid line) and then the predicted price for the next two years (dotted line). (https://www.bluonenergy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/r22-supply-demand-price.svg)
While R-22 refrigerant has gotten more expensive in the last ten years, the predictions shown in the graphs above have not come to pass.
Here is another graph showing the price between 2010 and 2017. This graph was borrowed from https://www.awtreyhvac.com/r22/
The green line in the graph shows the price of R22.
Recently, I made calls to some HVAC companies in my local area to find out what they were charging the end user for R22. The prices that I was quoted (in January of 2021) varied between $50 – $55 per pound.
Those prices are even cheaper than the 2018 price that is shown on the graph, indicating that not only did the price not rise between 2018 and 2021 as the graph predicted, but that it actually went down from about $80 in 2018 to around $55/lb today.
It seems that most predictions were highly exaggerated. Although the inventory of R22 is decreasing, it seems that the need for it is not as great as was forecast. Also, maybe all the inventory that companies began stocking up on in preparation for the huge price rise has over saturated the market to some extent.
Perhaps the price will finally stabilize and remain in a reasonable price range.
What are your options if your A/C system uses R-22 refrigerant?
If you have R22 refrigerant in your A/C system, and your system has stopped working properly or has gone out completely, then you have three options:
- Repair and recharge with R-22
- Replace the system
- Retrofit the system
Repair –
If your air conditioner is on the fritz, then repairing it is an option. Some things that you need to consider are its age, how extensive the repairs will be, and your financial situation.
If it is a fairly cheap repair (perhaps a few hundred dollars), then it may be worth it to have your A/C system repaired.
Many repairs, however, can easily cost $1000 or more. Is it worth spending $1000 or more to keep your system running if it is old and may only last for another year or two?
The average air conditioner system will last about 25 years. If your system is ten to fifteen years old, then you could possibly get another ten or more years out of it by repairing it. In this case it may be worth $1000 or more to have it repaired.
If your system is approaching 25 years old, then repairing it may not get you much additional time. (I have seen A/C systems that last for well over 30 years, although this is not normal.)
Something you need to keep in mind is that older systems will not be very energy efficient. It will probably cost about twice as much to operate an older system than it will to operate a new, more efficient system. Therefore, if you have an older system, and you can find a way to pay for a new system, you will definitely see some savings on your electric bill.
If you decide to have your system repaired, then you need to realize that it is possible that the money that you spend to repair it may only get you a very few more years out of your system – at which point you will end up purchasing a new system anyway.
Every situation is different. Only you know your circumstances and the level of risk that you are willing to accept.
Only you can decide the best option for you. You need to take into account the cost of the repairs that are needed, the age of your current system, and your own financial situation.
Replace –
Replacing your air conditioner is the most expensive option, but it will also give you the most benefits in the long run.
Replacing your old system will get you a brand new, much more efficient air conditioner that should last you for many years. The minimum allowable SEER rating (a measurement of energy efficiency) for new air conditioners is 13. SEE BLOG POST ABOUT SEER RATINGS
A unit with a SEER rating of 13 will likely be at least twice as efficient as a unit that is 20 years old or more. This means that it will cost half as much to cool your home.
I highly recommend getting the most efficient system that you can afford. As and example, a 15 or 16 SEER system will use 10% – 15% less electricity than a 13 SEER system.
An average new HVAC system will cost about $3500 – $6000. This price includes just a new air conditioning system. Adding a new furnace will cost another $1000 – $2000.
If the ductwork in your home has to be replaced, then that will also add significantly to the cost.
If you are considering purchasing a new air conditioner for your home, you should contact several companies to give you a quote. As you compare the quotes, make sure that you understand what each company is quoting you – that way you are comparing apples to apples.
Retrofit –
One option that you might consider and ask your HVAC technician about is the possibility of using a “drop-in” replacement for R-22. A drop-in replacement means you take out the R22 and drop in the new refrigerant.
The most common drop-in replacement that I see for R-22 refrigerant is R407-C.
R407C has operating characteristics that are very similar to those of R22.
Obviously, if your equipment is faulty, then it would still need to be repaired as discussed above. Once it is repaired, your HVAC technician may be able to add R407C refrigerant.
I would at least be worth asking how much it would cost to use R407C instead of using R22.
Important Dates to Remember about R-22 Refrigerant
- 2004 – EPA began the phase out of R22 refrigerant
- January 1, 2010 – After this date, no new air conditioning systems designed to use R22 refrigerant can be produced. (Through a “loophole” in legislation, systems that are dry charged (no refrigerant installed at the factory) can still be manufactured, and the installer can charge them with R22 when the system is installed at a home.
- January 1, 2020 – No R22 refrigerant can be produced or imported after this date.
- January 1, 2030 – Systems using R22 refrigerant will be completely outlawed.
I hope I have given you some valuable information that can help you to understand why R22 refrigerant is being phased out, and what your options are if you currently have a system using R22. If you have any questions or comments about this post, please leave them below, and I will reply as quickly as possible.
© 2021 Mike Morgan
This article was written by Mike Morgan, the owner of Morgan Inspection Services. Morgan Inspection Services has been providing home, septic and well inspection services throughout the central Texas area since 2002. He can be reached at 325-998-4663 or at mike@morganinspectionservices.com. No article, or portion thereof, may be reproduced or copied without prior written consent of Mike Morgan.
