In 2016 we told you about the R22 phase out and with warmer temperatures approaching, D&K Home Services by Enercare wanted to remind you of your courses of action.
RECAP:
If you have air conditioning equipment installed prior to 2010, it most likely uses R22 refrigerant, which is what keeps the air coming from your air conditioner cool and comfortable. The [[U.S. Environmental Protection Agency]9] began phasing out R22 refrigerant in recent years because it was compounding the depletion of the Earth’s ozone layer.
Launching in 2010, the making and importing of R22 was prohibited and by 2020, R22 will basically no longer be allowed.
HIGHLIGHTS:
R22 refrigerant is no longer manufactured in North America.
You can purchase recycled R22 now for existing air conditioners that use this certain refrigerant.
The cost of R22 is going up because of the reducing supply, and won’t be obtainable for use at all by 2020.
GOT IT? GOOD! SO WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?
If your air conditioner was produced after January 2010, the R22 refrigerant phase-out probably doesn’t apply to you. However, if your air conditioner was produced before January 2010, you have a couple options:
1) Purchase an upgraded, more environmentally-friendly system, which requires the approved A/C refrigerant.
2) Call a professional to replace the parts in your current air conditioner to help make it compatible with approved air conditioner refrigerant. Understand, though, this is not recommended because it could void your warranty(ies).
3) Keep using recycled R22 until 2020.
READY TO BE DONE WITH IT?
If you don’t want to panic about the trouble of your refrigerant being phased-out, or you don’t want to agonize about the increasing costs of said refrigerant, or you just want to improve the environment with a non-ozone destroying refrigerant, call D&K Home Services by Enercare today and we’ll come out and provide you a complimentary in-home estimate on a new air conditioner, just in time for spring!