What is R‑22 Refrigerant and Why Is It Being Phased Out?

If you have an AC system that uses R-22 refrigerant (also known as HCFC-22), you might need to replace your entire system.

Why?

Refrigerant is a chemical agent used by your air conditioner to absorb heat from your home’s air and then dump it outside. Your AC system cannot function without refrigerant. R-22 is a specific generation of refrigerant that is harmful to the environment, so the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stopped all production and importation of it in January 2020.

You might wonder how this obsolete refrigerant is relevant to you. If you have an older system installed before 2010, it most likely uses R-22. We’ll explain:

Below, we’ll explain the answers and how the phaseout might impact you.

To verify if your air conditioner uses R-22, you can check the label on the outdoor AC unit. If it says “R-22” or “HCFC-22” in the FIELD CHARGED box, the system runs on the outdated R-22.

In the case of a worn-out or indecipherable label, you can contact an HVAC professional to inspect the system. They should be able to determine what type of refrigerant your system uses and your best options moving forward.

In January 2020, the EPA released a statement:

"In 2020, R-22 will no longer be produced or imported. After 2020, only recovered, recycled, or reclaimed supplies of R-22 will be available. The production (not use) of R-22 is being phased out. You are not required to stop using R-22 air conditioners nor to replace existing equipment."

Why does the EPA care about HVAC equipment? R-22 is a “hydrochlorofluorocarbon” (commonly abbreviated as“HCFC”), which is an ozone-depleting gas. There have been industry-wide plans to phase out the refrigerant since the Montreal Protocol, a global agreement to protect the ozone layer, took place in 1987. However, R-22 was so widely used that it took over 30 years for the EPA to ban production and import to avoid economic impact.

Essentially, HVAC manufacturers are no longer allowed to produce or import R-22. Continuing to use an R-22 air conditioner is allowed but, as you’ll see, with difficulties.

As we mentioned in the introduction, having the right refrigerant levels in your AC system is vital for proper operation. Now that R-22 is no longer being produced, HVAC contractors have a limited supply of R-22 to recharge refrigerant levels for homeowners in the case of a leak. Contractors will then accordingly increase the cost of repairs. Eventually, the remaining supply will run out.

What’s next?

R-410A is a new generation of refrigerant that is more environmentally friendly and widely produced by manufacturers. While it’s not entirely harmless to the environment due to its high Global Warming Potential (GWP), meaning it can contribute to climate change if leaked into the air, R-410A is the next evolution of mass-produced refrigerant.

HVAC industry professionals and scientists are working hard to create and push out a refrigerant with a lower GWP called R-32. This refrigerant has a third of the GWP of R-410A and will enter the mainstream in the mid-2020s. If you’re interested, contact an HVAC professional to see when it might be available in your market.

Homeowners have three options:

While you cannot just use R-410A in an air conditioner designed for R-22, you can potentially have your current AC retrofitted to use R-410A.

Why can’t you use R-410A in an R-22 air conditioner? The new generation of refrigerants can absorb more heat than R-22. Therefore, R-410A has a higher temperature and puts more pressure on internal system components—most notably, the compressor. An air conditioner designed for R-22 will be unable to handle the additional pressure, leading to breakdowns. Repairing a hermetically sealed compressor can cost as much as a system replacement.

How does retrofitting work? In order to retrofit your AC system to use R-410A, a contractor must take the following steps:

• Replace the condenser, compressor, evaporator coil, and refrigerant lines
• Evacuate the entire unit of all refrigerant
• Clean, flush, and dry the unit
• Recharge with R-410A refrigerant

You’ll want to check with your HVAC contractor to determine whether or not retrofitting is possible for your AC system and budget. Also, check if retrofitting would void your manufacturer's warranty if it’s still valid.

The least recommended choice is to continue to use your current R-22 AC system as it is. The supply of R-22 is dwindling, and its cost will continue to increase. In fact, the cost of a pound of R-22 refrigerant is more than double—even triple—the cost of R-410A. Recharging your air conditioner’s refrigerant because of a leak, which is bound to happen for older air conditioners, will become increasingly cost-prohibitive.

As R-22 becomes more scarce, changing to an R-410A AC system can be more cost effective than maintaining an R-22 AC.

Compared to R-22, R-410A is more energy efficient as it can absorb more heat without needing as much energy, potentially lowering your monthly utility bills.

Not only can you enjoy a decrease in operating costs, but R-410A systems can also cool your home slightly faster due to their higher efficiency.

Depending on market availability, you might also be able to replace your R-22 AC system with an R-32 one in the future to even further cut down on global warming risks.