In accordance with The Clean Air Act of 1990, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency mandated the phase out of R-22 refrigerant to protect the Earth’s ozone layer from the ozone-depleting chlorine compound it contains. New air conditioning units stopped being manufactured to use R-22 back in 2010, and on January 1, 2020, R22 refrigerant will become illegal in the United States, meaning R22 refrigerant can no longer be manufactured or imported into the US. That means your old equipment can’t be repaired if the refrigerant is unavailable. R22 is being replaced by R-410A, a safer material which is the current, compliant standard AC refrigerant in air conditioning equipment.
What does this mean for your business?
If you have older equipment that this effects, you have some choices to make.
If your unit breaks after January 2020, chances are you’ll have to replace it. If it happens sooner, the price for a repair may be through the roof as stores of R-22 run out and everyone scrambles to do the same types of repairs at once.
In some cases, you may be able to perform a retrofit or a conversion that will allow your older system to use certain newer refrigerants. That option won’t be possible for all systems, so you’ll need a professional consultation to determine if it might work for you.
Perhaps the wisest move is to replace proactively. The upfront cost can be a hurdle, especially if you’ve got multiple systems to replace. However, this can be the most cost-effective option in the long run. You can even take advantage of tax breaks for HVAC equipment & installation costs. If you get it done this year before the deadline, you can write off the entire cost on your taxes. When figuring out the cost of replacement, don’t forget to take into account the fact that installing newer, more efficient systems can result in big reductions in energy expenses. Those savings might add up faster than you expect.
Speedy Electric is here to help you through this transition every step of the way. Give us a call today at 972-775-6686!
