By Anne Fonda
R-22 refrigerant is one specific type of refrigerant, which is the main chemical your HVAC system uses to cool your home. It’s also known as R-22 Freon™ and HCFC-22 Freon™. Generally speaking, all kinds of refrigerants run through your air conditioner or heat pump, and they continuously absorb and release heat to cool your home.
The R-22 phasing-out process began in 2010. Through the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, the U.S. committed to a collaborative, international effort to regulate and phase out ozone-depleting substances.
In 2010, the U.S. stopped the sale of newly manufactured residential air conditioning units and heat pumps that use R-22 because of its particularly harmful impact on the ozone layer when released into the air.
On January 1, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned the production and import of R-22. But units manufactured in 2009 and earlier still use R-22 today. Its use will eventually be eliminated in the U.S., so all current and future homeowners must be prepared for the transition.
Because R-22 has a high global warming potential (GWP), when it is released into the air outside, it depletes the earth’s ozone layer, which in turn contributes to worldwide climate change. Collectively, all of the emissions of R-22 since its creation have resulted in an “ozone hole” over the South Pole, according to the EPA.
To protect the ozone layer and slow climate change, the EPA is phasing out all production of R-22 and other ozone-depleting substances — like HCFCs, CFCs, and Halons.
In the most recent phase implemented on January 1, 2020, the EPA declared that R-22 could only be used in service or repair of older units, and the R-22 refrigerant must be sourced from recycled and stockpiled quantities.
The plan’s final stage is scheduled to be implemented on January 1, 2030, at which time the government will officially ban the remaining production and import of all HCFCs. The goal is to eventually eliminate not just the production but also the use of R-22 and other HCFCs.
R-22 is no longer produced or imported into the United States, but it still exists inside some older HVAC units. If your unit uses R-22 and runs out because of a refrigerant leak, HVAC technicians may still have access to an existing recycled, recovered, or reclaimed supply of this refrigerant and can service your unit as normal.
But, if you need to replace your unit altogether, you won’t be able to obtain another R-22-using system. Instead, your new unit will use a more sustainable replacement refrigerant, such as R-454B. (Don’t worry if you don’t know what that is, you’ll learn more in a bit!)
Since there is very little R-22 left in the United States, it gets more expensive every year. Prices can range from $60-$250 per pound. Keep in mind EPA regulations stipulate that only a trained HVAC technician should handle HVAC refrigerants. If your older air conditioner or heat pump is low on R-22, an HVAC professional should be the one to recharge it.
The refrigerant type your HVAC system uses should be listed in your owner’s manual. If you can’t find your manual, try contacting the company that sold or services your HVAC system to find out the type of refrigerant your unit uses. It may also be listed on the product tag on the outdoor unit.
If your HVAC system still uses R-22, you don’t need to replace or stop using your system right away. The EPA’s plan to phase out these harmful chemicals stretches out over several years so that homeowners can switch to more environmentally friendly refrigerants at a time that’s convenient for their system.
Right now, HVAC systems that use R-22 can still be maintained and serviced by an HVAC professional with the existing supply of this older refrigerant. That means, if your unit uses R-22, you can still perform regularly-scheduled maintenance. Keep in mind, as the years of the production and import ban go on, the supply of R-22 will continue to dwindle, which will make it harder to get your unit serviced in the future.
The EPA is encouraging people who use HVAC systems with R-22 to replace them with a more sustainable and eco-friendly option when their unit needs to be replaced.
If your air conditioning system or heat pump system is still functioning and still uses R-22, you can continue to have it serviced as normal if a small maintenance problem pops up. A licensed HVAC professional will have the knowledge, skills, and equipment to service your cooling unit and replenish the refrigerant if needed.
To service an R-22-using system, your HVAC technician must be EPA Section 608-certified under the Clean Air Act, which means they know the proper way to handle and dispose of harmful refrigerants.
As a homeowner with an R-22-using HVAC system, schedule yearly HVAC maintenance and change your air filters regularly. Doing so can help minimize environmental damage.
Replace your R-22-using system when the unit has reached the end of its lifespan. Systems using R-22 haven’t been manufactured since 2010, so there’s a chance that, based on the lifespans of typical air conditioners and heat pumps, you might need a replacement soon. When you replace your unit, you’ll be doing your part to help the environment by retiring one more unit using this old refrigerant.
You can get further guidance in our Repair or Replace Guide.
When it is time to replace your R-22-using HVAC system, rest assured your new system will be more environmentally friendly. Since 2010, the most common R-22 replacement was R-410A, a refrigerant without the ozone-depleting qualities of R-22.
Today, because of further environmental regulations, Trane is transitioning to using R-454B refrigerant in our residential cooling systems, using a phased-in approach. They are more sustainable refrigerants with a lower GWP 0 ozone depletion potential (ODP)
Read this article on the refrigerant transition for a more thorough explanation of the reasoning and science behind the change.
R-22 was a commonly used refrigerant that is being phased out because of its harmful impact on the ozone layer. If your HVAC system uses R-22, don’t panic — you can still use and maintain your system as normal. But, when it’s time for your system to be replaced, you’ll need to upgrade to a more sustainable alternative.
Anne Fonda, Content Writer
A Content Writer with Trane Technologies, Anne Fonda researches topics and writes for Trane® and associated residential HVAC brands. She works in collaboration with Trane Technologies subject matter experts, offering easy-to-understand, informative content on complex topics. Her goal is to help consumers make informed decisions on the products and services they need.
She has written for HVAC and other service provider websites for over 16 years. Before transitioning to web content writing, Anne had a 14-year stint as an award-winning journalist. She graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism.
When she’s not working, Anne enjoys playing word games, reading, gardening, spending time with family, and visiting gardens and museums.
Expert review by Stacy Downie, Sustainability Solutions Marketing Manager
R-410A is the refrigerant that replaced R-22 (Freon®) in air conditioning and heat pump systems manufactured after 2009.
Refrigerant is a chemical cooling compound that absorbs and releases heat at different points in the heat exchange cycle as it runs throughout an HVAC system.
R-454B is a blend of R-32, a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), and R-1234yf a hydrofluoroolefin (HFO). R-454B has a lower GWP than previous refrigerants.
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