R-22 refrigerant known as Freon is due to be phased out by 2020. The primary focus of this article will be the impact that the phasing out of Freon will have on consumers. I will leave the technical aspects of Freon vs. Puron for another blog (maybe).
First, a brief history of why R-22 Freon is being phased out. In 1987, the United States signed the "Montreal Protocol." Which is a worldwide agreement to phase out all ozone-depleting Chloro-Fluoro-Carbons by 1996. And, the protocol was amended in 1992 to included HCFCs, Hydro-Chloro-Fluoro-Carbons (which are less destructive to the ozone layer), and to begin the phase out of HCFCs by 2010. Not counting dry charge units, all new air conditioners have been using "Puron" (R-410a) since Jan 1, 2010. We are currently 3.5 years into the 10 year phase out of Freon.
Consumers are beginning to feel the economic impact of the transistion from R-22 (Freon) to R-410a. The 10 year phase out of Freon includes a reduction in production levels from one year to the next. In the first 3 years, we have seen Freon prices increase by as much as 3 to 4 times as much as they were 3 years ago. But, the biggest reduction has yet to happen. At the midway point (2015) production levels will be dropped by 90%. Freon will be very difficult to get by 2015 and if you can get it, it will be pricey. Also, Puron is the replacement for Freon, and it does NOT work in R-22 systems. So, if you have an air conditioner with a Freon leak, you will be forced to seriously consider replacing your entire ac system with a new environmentally friendly R-410a system. Repairing R-22 systems from 2015 on beyond will be costly. Just some food for thought and a friendly FYI if you have an older R-22 ac system.
For more info on this, check out this EPA site here :
http://www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/phaseout/22phaseout.html
And, here is another site with additional info about the phase out :
I hope this has been informative, Thanks.
Jim Harless
