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IS R22 ILLEGAL?

Don’t Let R22 Scare Tactics Fool You…

Now that we’ve entered 2020, more and more air conditioning companies seem to be employing fake scare tactics based on the R22 refrigerant phase out to coerce customers into upgrading perfectly good home heating and cooling systems.

Before you decide to replace your older HVAC systesm just because it runs on the older R22 refrigerant, please read on and find out the truth of the current situation.

Is R22 Banned or Illegal?

The EPA has this to say on the issue:

“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”

Whatever your air conditioning contractor may be telling you, or what you may hear on radio or TV ads, R22 is not illegal or banned. Your HVAC unit has not suddenly become illegal, and it does not need to go to jail or be immediately recycled.

What has changed is that, as of January 1st 2020, R22 can no longer be produced or imported to the USA. Typically only older systems use R22, since manufacturers have know the change was coming for some time and have moved to a refrigerant knows as 410A.

The important thing to know – you are not suddenly required to purchase a new system, and it’s very possible there will be a good supply of R22 for years to come.

Will The Price Of R22 Increase?

There are currently large supplies of R22 in the US, but no one has a good count on how much. This R22 supply can and will be used for refilling your refrigerant if it leaks.

We all know the laws of supply and demand. Many think that as supplies are used up, prices will go through the roof, to the point that it is better to simply buy a new unit.

Again – this is speculation. Right now, as we start 2020, R22 prices are a touch lower than they were in 2018. We have not yet seen a spike in price, and it’s possible we never will. It all depends on how much is available and how long older systems continue to need it.

The takeaway here? Prices may go up in future but we don’t expect an immediate and massive R22 price increase in 2020 here in Albuquerque.

When Should You Replace Your System?

In our opinion here at Signature Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, the R22 issue does not currently affect whether or not you should replace your system. If your unit fails, or is becoming too expensive to keep repairing due to age, we recommend replacing it. And of course we offer free estimates from our project managers, financing if needed and energy efficiency rebates.

If your system is running well there is no need to replace it unless you’d like to upgrade to a more comfortable or more efficient system. Anyone who tells you that you must replace because of ‘banned R22’ does not have your best interests at heart and is just trying to force a sale. If you system is running well, but slowly leaking refrigerant, don’t panic – we have R22 for you and don’t anticipate running out. If that changes we’ll let you know.

That said, there are plenty of R22 rumors and fake news flying around in our industry – if you have any questions at all on the R22 or 410A refrigerant issue, please just Signature a call on 505-365-1885 and we’ll be happy to help.

For more information from our industry magazine, click here.

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