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What You Should Know about Refrigerants When Purchasing or Repairing
a Residential A/C System or Heat Pump
OZONE PROTECTION HOTLINE TOLL-FREE (800) 296-1996
DISCLAIMER: EPA seeks to promote energy efficiency and the safe use
of ozone- friendly substances, and does not endorse any particular
company or its products.
Background: Ban on Production and Imports of Ozone-Depleting
Refrigerants
 In 1987 the Montreal
Protocol, an international environmental agreement, established
requirements that began the worldwide phaseout of ozone-depleting CFCs
(chlorofluorocarbons). These requirements were later modified, leading
to the phase out in 1996 of CFC production in all developed nations. In
addition, a 1992 amendment to the Montreal Protocol established a
schedule for the phaseout of HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons). HCFCs are
substantially less damaging to the ozone layer than CFCs, but still
contain ozone-destroying chlorine. The Montreal Protocol as amended is
carried out in the U.S. through Title VI of the Clean Air Act, which is
implemented by EPA.
An HCFC known as R-22 has
been the refrigerant of choice for residential heat pump and
air-conditioning systems for more than four decades. Unfortunately for
the environment, releases of R-22 that result from system leaks
contribute to ozone depletion. In addition, the manufacture of R-22
results in a by-product that contributes significantly to global
warming. As the manufacture of R-22 is phased out over the coming years
as part of the agreement to end production of HCFCs, manufacturers of
residential air conditioning systems are beginning to offer equipment
that uses ozone-friendly refrigerants. Many homewners may be misinformed
about how much longer R-22 will be available to service their central
A/C systems and heat pumps. This fact sheet provides information about
the transition away from R-22, the future availability of R-22, and the
new refrigerants that are replacing R-22. This document also assists
consumers in deciding what to consider when purchasing a new A/C system
or heat pump, or when having an existing system repaired.
Phaseout Schedule for HCFCs Including R-22
Under the terms of the
Montreal Protocol, the U.S. agreed to meet certain obligations by
specific dates that will affect the residential heat pump and
air-conditioning industry:
 January 1, 2004: In
accordance with the terms of the Montreal Protocol, the amount of all
HCFCs that can be produced nationwide must be reduced by 35% by 2004. In
order to achieve this goal, the U.S. is ceasing production of HCFC-141b,
the most ozone-damaging of this class of chemicals, on January 1, 2003.
This production ban will greatly reduce nationwide use of HCFCs as a
group, making it likely that the 2004 deadline will have a minimal
effect on R-22 supplies.
January 1, 2010: After 2010,
chemical manufacturers may still produce R-22 to service existing
equipment, but not for use in new equipment. As a result, heating,
ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system manufacturers will only
be able to use pre-existing supplies of R-22 to produce new air
conditioners and heat pumps. These existing supplies would include R-22
recovered from existing equipment and recycled.
January 1, 2020: Use of
existing refrigerant, including refrigerant that has been recovered and
recycled, will be allowed beyond 2020 to service existing systems, but
chemical manufacturers will no longer be able to produce R-22 to service
existing air conditioners and heat pumps.
For more information about this phaseout, see fact sheets about the HCFC
Phaseout Schedule and the Update
on HCFC Allowance Allocation System Regulations.
What Does the R-22 Phaseout Mean for Consumers?
Availability of
R-22. The Clean Air Act does not allow any refrigerant to be
vented into the atmosphere during installation, service, or retirement
of equipment. Therefore, R-22 must be recovered and recycled (for reuse
in the same system), reclaimed (reprocessed to the same purity levels as
new R-22), or destroyed. After 2020, the servicing of R-22-based systems
will rely on recycled refrigerants. It is expected that reclamation and
recycling will ensure that existing supplies of R-22 will last longer
and be available to service a greater number of systems. As noted above,
chemical manufacturers will be able to produce R-22 for use in new A/C
equipment until 2010, and they can continue production of R-22 until
2020 for use in servicing that equipment. Given this schedule, the
transition away from R-22 to the use of ozone-friendly refrigerants
should be smooth. For the next 20 years or more, R-22 should continue to
be available for all systems that require R-22 for servicing.
Cost of R-22. While
consumers should be aware that prices of R-22 may increase as supplies
dwindle over the next 20 or 30 years, EPA believes that consumers are
not likely to be subjected to major price increases within a short time
period. Although there is no guarantee that service costs of R-22 will
not increase, the lengthy phaseout period for R-22 means that market
conditions should not be greatly affected by the volatility and
resulting refrigerant price hikes that have characterized the phaseout
of R-12, the refrigerant used in automotive air-conditioning systems.
Alternatives to R-22 in Residential Air Conditioning
As R-22 is gradually
phased out, non-ozone-depleting alternative refrigerants are being
introduced. Under the Clean Air Act, EPA reviews alternatives to
ozone-depleting substances like R-22 in order to evaluate their effects
on human health and the environment. EPA has reviewed several of these
alternatives to R-22 and has compiled a list
of substitutes that EPA has determined are acceptable. One of these
substitutes is R-410A, a blend of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), substances
that do not contribute to depletion of the ozone layer, but, like R-22,
contribute to global warming. R-410A is manufactured and sold under
various trade names, including GENETRON AZ-20®, SUVA 410A®, and Puron®.
Additional refrigerants on the list of acceptable substitutes include
R-134a and R-407C. These two refrigerants are not yet available for
residential applications in the U.S., but are commonly found in
residential A/C systems and heat pumps in Europe. EPA will continue to
review new non-ozone-depleting refrigerants as they are developed.
Servicing
existing units. Existing units using R-22 can continue to be
serviced with R-22. There is no EPA requirement to change or convert
R-22 units for use with a non-ozone-depleting substitute refrigerant. In
addition, the new substitute refrigerants cannot be used without making
some changes to system components. As a result, service technicians who
repair leaks to the system will continue to charge R-22 into the system
as part of that repair.
Installing
new units. The transition away from ozone-depleting R-22 to
systems that rely on replacement refrigerants like R-410A has required
redesign of heat pump and air conditioning systems. New systems
incorporate compressors and other components specifically designed for
use with specific replacement refrigerants. With these significant
product and production process changes, testing and training must also
change. Consumers should be aware that dealers of systems that use
substitute refrigerants should be schooled in installation and service
techniques required for use of that substitute refrigerant.
A Common Sense Approach To Servicing Your System
Along with prohibiting the
production of ozone-depleting refrigerants, the Clean Air Act also
mandates the use of common sense in handling refrigerants. By containing
and using refrigerants responsibly -- that is, by recovering, recycling,
and reclaiming, and by reducing leaks -- their ozone depletion and
global warming consequences are minimized. The Clean Air Act outlines
specific refrigerant containment and management practices for HVAC
manufacturers, distributors, dealers and technicians. Properly installed
home comfort systems rarely develop refrigerant leaks, and with proper
servicing, a system using R-22, R-410A or another refrigerant will
minimize its impact on the environment. While EPA does not mandate
repairing or replacing small systems because of leaks, system leaks can
not only harm the environment, but also result in increased maintenance
costs.
One
important thing a homeowner can do for the environment, regardless of
the refrigerant used, is to select a reputable dealer that employs
service technicians who are EPA-certified to handle refrigerants. Technicians
often call this certification "Section 608 certification,"
referring to the part of the Clean Air Act that requires minimizing
releases of ozone-depleting chemicals from HVAC equipment.
A Common Sense Approach To Purchasing New Systems
Another important
thing a homeowner can do for the environment is to purchase a highly
energy-efficient system. Energy-efficient systems result in cost savings
for the homeowner. Today's best air conditioners use much less
energy to produce the same amount of cooling as air conditioners made in
the mid-1970s. Even if your air conditioner is only 10 years old, you
may save significantly on your cooling energy costs by replacing it with
a newer, more efficient model. Products with EPA's Energy Star® label
can save homeowners 10% to 40% on their heating and cooling bills every
year. These products are made by most major manufacturers and have the
same features as standard products but also incorporate energy saving
technology. Both R-22 and R-410A systems may have the Energy Star®
label. Equipment that displays the Energy Star® label must have a
minimum seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER). The higher the SEER
specification, the more efficient the equipment.
You should consider
energy efficiency, along with performance, reliability and cost, in
making your decision. And don't forget that when purchasing a new
system, you can also speed the transition away from ozone-depleting R-22
by choosing a system that uses ozone-friendly refrigerants.
Related Fact Sheets
 Information
on EPA's Energy Star program for heating and cooling equipment
- Home
Improvement Toolbox with Energy Star
Recommendations from EPA's Energy Star program
- Information
on financing the purchase of an A/C system or a heat pump
Recommendations from EPA's Energy Star program
- Information
on energy-efficient air conditioning
Recommendations from the Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency
and Renewable Energy Network (EREN)
- Information
on replacing your A/C system
Recommendations from the Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency
and Renewable Energy Network (EREN)
- Information
on replacing your heat pump
Recommendations from the Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency
and Renewable Energy Network (EREN)
Remind me ... why have the U.S. and other countries agreed
to stop the production of CFC and HCFC refrigerants?
- CFCs and HCFCs deplete the ozone
layer, which acts as a blanket in the stratosphere that protects us
from harmful UV radiation.
-
- This radiation has been linked to skin
cancer, which is now one of the fastest growing forms of cancer. In
the U.S., one person dies of skin cancer every hour.
-
- Remember that ozone is "good up
high, bad nearby:" even though it protects us when it is in the
stratosphere, ozone at ground level can be harmful to breathe and is
a prime ingredient in smog. Many man-made sources such as tailpipe
emissions from cars contribute to ground-level ozone.
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Written by EPA's Global
Programs Division
Last updated on May 1, 2001
http://www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/phaseout/22phaseout.html
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