The subject is critical, but it is not as immediately critical as we hear it in the market. Many homeowners have been told that R22 is now illegal and that they need to change their air conditioning to avoid breaking the law. It`s not true. Importing and manufacturing R22 refrigerant into the United States is not illegal for anyone to purchase R22 freon. And it`s not illegal to sell it IF you have a license. Yes, only certain HFC refrigerants are acceptable substitutes for various end-use applications. The EPA`s SNAP program maintains a list of acceptable refrigerant substitutes. It is also illegal to knowingly remove or release these refrigerants, just like with ozone-depleting refrigerants such as HCFC-22. “You have to replace your system, ma`am, because R-22 will be illegal starting in 2020.” The phase-out of R22 in 2020 means that it has become completely illegal to produce R22 yourself or import it into the country. However, recovered, recycled, or recovered refrigerants can continue to service existing HVAC systems, but chemical manufacturers cannot produce new R22 refrigerants to service existing air conditioners and heat pumps. “I`m sorry, sir, your air conditioner is leaking refrigerant, and it would be illegal for us to fill it with R-22. They need to replace your system. R22 (also known as HCFC-22) is being phased out worldwide due to its harmful effects on the ozone layer.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had set January 1, 2020 as the date on which the manufacture and import of R22 would become illegal in the United States. Only recycled, recovered or recovered R-22 refrigerants (HCFC-22) are now available for servicing existing air conditioning systems. So it`s absolutely not illegal for your EPA-certified technician to buy R-22 and replenish your system with it. It is not illegal to repair your system just because it contains R-22. I just stayed in a house here in Rancho Cordova that is only 10 years old. Its air conditioner is therefore 10 years old. Two companies told him that since his system was leaking AC freon refrigerant, it would be illegal to make repairs to it starting in 2020, even saying they could be reported to the EPA and fined or lose their license.
They went on to say that the system had exceeded its normal lifespan anyway and that it should think about getting a new system. “My HVAC technician told me we needed to replace our air conditioning system because R-22 is illegal starting in 2020.” Every day, people are lied to directly at home, either by super salespeople who try to line their pockets with commissions, or by new technicians who do not know the real truth about the release of R-22 (ca freon). Stay tuned and I`ll tell you more! Yes, as of January 1, 2018, EPA technician certification is required to service stationary refrigeration and air conditioning systems with HFCs. This year, Raley`s installed an ammonia/CO2 system at a new store in Sacramento, California. Ed Estberg, a Raley`s refrigeration consultant who was previously long-time senior facility manager for all 130 stores, convinced the chain`s owners that, given the upcoming 150 GWP cap, Raley`s “really has no choice” but to invest in natural refrigerant technology for its future operations. he explained at the 2019 IIAR Natural Refrigeration Conference and Exhibition. MO99 or Freon® MO99 is an effective substitute for R-22. It complies with R-22 in terms of efficiency and the amount of refrigerant needed in most air conditioners. It is also compatible with the most commonly used types of oil (oil is used in your air conditioner`s compressor). Yes, R-22 (freon) will be phased out. It has been slowly phased out since the 1987 Montreal Protocol.
It was one of the first international efforts to prevent the production of ozone-depleting substances such as Freon R-22 from eroding the stratospheric ozone layer. Work with reputable HVAC contractors who employ EPA-certified service technicians to handle air conditioning refrigerants. This certification is called section 608 certification, which relates to part of the Clean Air Act. If you`re talking to an air conditioning company, ask if their technicians are Section 608 certified. You can also ask a service technician to show you their certification card. What for? Because your central air conditioning system has been designed for a lifespan of about 20 years. You can read more about this topic here. Maybe even more if you really wanted to capture it. Like some of you, I took very good care of my air conditioning system. I did the interview for several years. So my system is very clean and still works very well, even though I had this major repair as System 11. This system is now 21 years old, and although I have had to replace a small part here and there, the system has worked very well over the last 10 years.
D&H AC technicians can help you work around these issues. You are trained to do calculations on what your home really needs to be heated and cooled efficiently. They are formed in many different brands of air conditioners. They have the right certifications to assess the situation of an existing facility and provide you with recommendations that make sense based on numbers, circumstances and lifestyle. We will send you a qualified technician free of charge to perform all these tasks at your home. Call D&H AC on [phone] and ask to speak to our certified technicians about replacing an existing air conditioner. Look for the device`s nameplate: Check the internal coil or external capacitor of your HVAC system to see if you see a nameplate on the chassis that displays all of your system`s specifications as well as the installed refrigerant. EPA expects recovered and previously produced HCFC-22s to be available for equipment maintenance and servicing well past 2020, but pricing and availability may change. The EPA believes the supply should allow for a smooth transition to alternative refrigerants. R410A is what is used by new air conditioners. You cannot use R410A in a machine designed for R22.
It would be like putting gasoline in a diesel engine! The “high side” or “primary refrigerant” used to dissipate heat from the system can be one of many refrigerants, including HFCs, HFOs, and natural refrigerants such as ammonia and propane. In these systems, a secondary refrigerant such as low-GWP CO2 (for medium and low temperature applications) is cooled and distributed as needed. The amount of primary refrigerant can be reduced by 70% or more, and the amount of piping used for the primary refrigerant can be significantly reduced, avoiding emissions by reducing both leakage rates and the amount of high GWP refrigerant that can escape. “However,” added Mr. Coffin, “the important work begins now to address regulatory actions, achieve compliance and consolidate critical steps towards a more sustainable future. From the supermarket industry to cold stores to ice rinks, action is needed. Some Los Angeles contractors may suggest modifying your R-22 device to work with R-410A. This is sometimes referred to as a retrofit or walk-in replacement. At Canoga Park Heating & Air Conditioning, we strongly reject this approach. In most cases, this is not possible.
You need a certified technician to do this for you. Even if you have a window unit, it`s best to let a professional do the work to make sure you don`t release freon into the atmosphere and stay within the bounds of the law. Owners of air conditioners manufactured before 2013 should note that upgrading their system to R-421A will require work. Call a professional: If you have any doubts about the type of refrigerant powered by your air conditioner and how the R22 ban affects you, call SuperTech for help. We have experienced EPA certified technicians to give you the help and support you need. In 2020, R-22 refrigerant can no longer be produced. But there is still a certain amount lying around in the warehouses, waiting to be sold. I have no idea how much.
But even if it expires, there will still be recycled R-22 that we can use. You see, as technicians, we are mandated by the government to recover the refrigerant that we take from the systems and transfer it to specific locations so that they can clean it and reuse it as recycled R-22.
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