Frequently Asked Questions

If you rely on a heating or cooling system that uses R22 refrigerant, an ozone-depleting< substance, you may be in for a surprise during your next service visit. As of January 1, 2020, production and import of R22 refrigerant will be illegal in the United States. Of course, continued use of your air conditioner using R22 refrigerant is allowed. However, it does mean that if your A/C needs a repair that involves refrigerant, you may have to decide between a hefty refrigerant bill and a system replacement.

What Refrigerant Is In My Cooling System?

On January 1, 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency implemented a ban on the production and import of R22, except for continuing servicing needs of existing equipment. The EPA also banned the manufacture and installation of new R22 systems. As a result, manufacturers of A/C and equipment redesigned their systems to accommodate R410A, a chlorine free refrigerant.

If your AC was built and installed before January 1, 2010, there’s a good chance it uses R22 refrigerant. Your equipment may have a label that identifies the type of refrigerant used, but it’s a good idea to ask Brandt A/C & Heating for confirmation.

Are There “Alternative” Options?

A licensed, professional HVAC dealer may offer to retrofit your current R22 refrigerant system to work with another refrigerant. This is commonly referred to as a “drop-in” replacement. But keep in mind that your licensed professional A/C dealer can’t simply replace R22 with any other refrigerant without additional modifications. It is not acceptable to substitute R410A, which operates at different pressure levels than that of R22, without major changes and engineering analysis. And, safe disposal of refrigerants regulated by the EPA is mandatory.

A proper retrofit requires extensive experience and expertise. Be aware that if an A/C dealer performs a faulty retrofit, there is a chance that your system’s warranty may not cover the damages, and you should consult your product manufacturer’s warranty to see if it would remain in effect. Additionally, using any other refrigerant than what is listed on the unit nameplate voids the safety certification of the system. Unfortunately, a bad retrofit and system modification could potentially cost you more than installing a new R410A refrigerant HVAC system.

What If My AC or Heat Pump Uses R22?

The ban doesn’t require you to replace a functioning, R22 refrigerant A/C. However, you may need to evaluate your options if your air conditioning system fails or requires emergency repairs. So… what are my options?

OPTION 1: REPAIR

Even though OPTION 1 may sound like an easy fix, the price of R22 refrigerant is subject to shrinking supply. This may make R22 very expensive. “While R22 remains available for servicing equipment made before 2010, it is important to know that supplies of R22 will become more limited and the price of this refrigerant may increase” says the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute.

As the supply becomes limited, you may end up paying more for a repair that requires R22 refrigerant than a down payment on a new A/C system. Just remember that A/Cs are not designed to consume refrigerant. Refrigerant simply flows through a continuous series of coils. If your technician suspects a leak, they should locate and repair the refrigerant leak instead of simply “topping off” a leaking system.

OPTION 2: REPLACE

Are you hoping that your A/C or heat pump can get through “just one more” season without having to replace it? If this sounds familiar, you may want to consider OPTION 2 instead of putting money into your existing equipment.