Obsolete AC System – R22

What is R22 Freon?

R22 was the standard refrigerant used in AC systems for many years. Refrigerant is the substance used to transfer heat from inside your home to the outdoors. It was also used in heat pump systems.

Why is R22 Obsolete?

R22 is an HCFC, also known as a greenhouse gas, meaning that it depletes the ozone layer. It is considered bad for the environment.

The EPA phased out R22 many years ago. New AC systems were not allowed to use R22 starting 2010. A ban on production and import of R22 became gradually more strict until 2020.

Existing stockpile and recycled amounts are the only remaining source. It has become very expensive to purchase those remaining, limited stockpiles.

Is Your Old System Illegal?

No, there is no law stating that you cannot continue to use your AC system if it uses R22. In fact, there are still quite a few of those systems still in operation.

Bud Rozell, a certified home inspector in Dallas, and owner of Good Home Inspection, says that he sees these old systems on a regular basis when doing home inspections, and many of them are running fine.

However, the cost of R22 makes using it very impractical. For example, eventually your system will leak and it will no longer be able to cool your home properly.

If you call an AC tech to diagnose your AC problems, and they quote you a really high rate just to refill your refrigerant, don’t be surprised.

So I Can Keep My Old System If It Never Needs Freon?

Theoretically, sure, you can use your old system if it never needs more freon. But all systems leak sooner or later. Most systems have leaks, but the leak may be so small, it can go for years before you notice it.

And if you need more freon because there’s a leak, then just adding more freon won’t solve your problem. It’s impossible to tell how large a leak is, so you might be pouring a ton of money right into thin air!

Also, if any other component of your system needs repair, you would be investing in that old system for a very limited lifespan.

What Are The Options?

Most AC repair companies agree that a new system is the best investment you can make. It’s not necessarily just because they want to sell you a new system. You’ll save money in the long run with a new system. Not only will it be more reliable and efficient, the daily operating costs will be much lower.

Let’s say your old system is running fine but needs a minor repair, say $400, for example. Then it might be worth repairing, even though it’s still not the best long term investment.

However, if the repair is going to cost $1100, it makes much less sense. Compare that to spending $1100 to fix a 30 year old car that has 200,000 miles on it. Even after getting it fixed, there’s a good chance that car will need another major repair soon.

We Can Repair or Install

Normally, we like to repair a system if it makes sense. But we’ll tell you the truth if it makes more sense to get a new system.

Free Estimates on New Systems

We can size and price a new system for you. Our estimates are free and our prices are very competitive.

We keep low overhead so se can pass on the savings to you.