All air conditioners (and heat pumps) rely on some type of refrigerant, which is a special type of chemical compound with unique properties that make it ideally suited for cooling. As new types of refrigerants were developed in recent years, the EPA has taken steps to phase out some older refrigerants that were commonly used in AC and heat pump systems.
These phase-outs are now starting to have a direct impact on homeowners with older systems that aren’t compatible with the new refrigerants. In this article, we’ll explore the role that refrigerants play, the reasons some of them are being phased out, and what it all means for consumers.
The Role of Refrigerant in Air Conditioning
Air conditioning cools a house by capturing and removing heat from the indoor air and then transferring and releasing the heat outside, and the refrigerant that constantly flows through the system is what makes this heat transfer process possible. All refrigerants have an extremely low freezing point, which also means that they boil at fairly low temperatures. Cold, liquid refrigerant is used to absorb heat from the air flowing through the indoor AC unit. When the refrigerant flows back to the outdoor unit, it gets compressed and instantly boils, transforming it into a superheated gas. At this point in the cooling cycle, the refrigerant is now much hotter than the air outside. The fact that it’s hotter than the surrounding air means that all of the heat it contains naturally gets released, causing it to quickly cool down and change back into a liquid.
Why Some Refrigerants Are Being Phased Out
In 2010, the EPA began gradually phasing out R-22 refrigerant (commonly known by the brand name Freon). The first step of the phase-out was banning manufacturers from using R-22 in new air conditioners and heat pumps. In 2020, the EPA then fully banned the production and import of R-22. The primary reason for the phase-out and eventual ban is that R-22 belongs to a category of chemicals known as HCFCs, which were largely what was responsible for the deterioration of the ozone layer. R-22 is also an extremely powerful greenhouse gas that traps huge amounts of heat into the atmosphere when it gets released.
Once R-22 could no longer be used, most manufacturers switched to using R-410a (Puron). However, the EPA started phasing out this refrigerant in 2025 and banned its use in new equipment. Manufacturers are also required to decrease how much R-410a they produce year by year. By 2036, the goal is for the total production rate to be at least 85% less than it was before the phase-out started. While R-410a doesn’t have any ozone-depleting properties, it still has an extremely high global warming potential. That’s why it’s been replaced by two new types of refrigerants (R-32 and R-454b) that have a much lower global warming potential.
What the Phase-Out Means for AC Maintenance and Upgrade Needs
You can tell what type of refrigerant your AC or heat pump system uses by looking at the yellow information label on the back of the outdoor unit. If your system uses either R-22 or R-410a, you can encounter additional challenges when you need to have the system serviced or repaired. Despite R-22 being banned, it’s still possible to use it to recharge an old system that’s low on refrigerant. However, the HVAC company must either have a stockpile from before the ban went into effect or use refrigerant that was reclaimed from an old system. The ban has led to a major supply shortage that has caused the price of R-22 to skyrocket. In many cases, the cost of recharging an old system is so high that the better option is to just replace it.
The cost of R-410a is slowly starting to increase and will eventually spike as the production ramps down. Nonetheless, most HVAC companies have begun stocking up in advance. It’s usually still worth paying to recharge an R-410a system as long as it doesn’t have other major issues and is no more than 10 years old.
Another unfortunate part of the refrigerant phase-outs is that it has led to the cost of new AC units and heat pumps increasing. This is mainly because the new refrigerants, known as A2Ls, are slightly flammable, meaning there needs to be additional safety components to prevent a fire. The upside is that the new refrigerants have led to an overall improvement in energy efficiency, allowing homeowners to reduce their cooling costs.
Home Comfort Services is a leading provider of air conditioning services in Grand Junction and the surrounding communities, and our expert team is ready to help you keep cool. Whether it’s AC installation or a tune-up service, we have the solutions to ensure you enjoy efficient, effective cooling all summer long. To schedule a service call or inspection, contact Home Comfort Services today.
