Important Information About the R22 Phaseout
The U.S. government has announced a mandatory phaseout of R22 refrigerant (commonly known as “Freon”) with a complete production halt by 2020. The phaseout has already been causing the price of R22 to increase each year since the announcement of this regulation change.
As R22 prices continue to increase, proactively replacing your air conditioner is often the most cost-effective option. Fill out the form on this page to schedule a FREE in-home energy consultation with one of our expert consultants, and learn about all of the options available for your system.
Why Is the Government Phasing Out R22?
The U.S. government has initiated this regulation change because of damaging effects R22 has on the environment. The emission of substances like R22 deplete the earth’s ozone layer, which protects living things from being exposed to too much ultraviolet radiation. By stopping the use of substances like R22, we can reduce the damage being done to the ozone layer.
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How the Phaseout of R22 Affects You
If your air conditioner was made before 2010, it most likely uses R22 refrigerant to operate. A common issue with old air conditioners is an R22 leak. When this happens, technicians are required to locate and seal the leak, and then add more R22 to the system. As the production deadline approaches, this common repair is becoming very expensive.
What Are Your Options?
After January 1, 2020 the cost to repair a leaking system that uses R22 will increase drastically. Once the inventory of R22 is depleted, your only option will be an emergency replacement of your equipment.
If your air conditioner has needed additional R22 in the past or is more than 9 years old, your best option is to replace your air conditioning system now before it dies. When you have an R22 leak, it is often an indication of other parts of your equipment starting to fail. These repair bills can add up quickly – replacing your equipment is often the most cost-effective option for an old or failing system.
Why Choose SMO Energy?
Safety is one of our top priorities at SMO Energy, which is why we make sure to keep our customers informed of major industry changes like the introduction of this new regulation. Other companies may provide other options like R22 alternatives to keep your current system running after a leak, but we understand the damaging effects these alternatives can have on your system and want to offer solutions that are best for your home and your wallet.
We are a full-service heating and cooling company that has been providing the Southern Maryland region with total home comfort solutions since 1926. Our technicians are continually strengthening their skills through training at our own state-of-the-art HVAC training facility, the Shymansky Institute. Each of our technicians take the time to go above and beyond repairing your HVAC equipment by also addressing any concerns you may have with other HVAC equipment in your home and making recommendations for the future of your home comfort. Whatever your HVAC needs may be, our highly-qualified technicians have you covered.