Yes. EPA's regulations allow for the sale of refrigerant contained in a used appliance that is sold or offered for sale together with a fully assembled refrigerant circuit. Used components of an air-conditioner or refrigeration appliance (for example, a condensing unit) cannot contain used refrigerant when sold.
Refrigerant can only be sold to technicians certified under the Section 608 or Section 609 technician certification programs, where individuals may only purchase refrigerant consistent with the appliances covered by their certification.
EPA regulations (40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F ) under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act restrict the resale of used ozone-depleting and substitute (e.g., HFC) refrigerant to a new owner unless it has been reclaimed by an EPA-certified refrigerant reclaimer.
If you sell to someone who does not have an EPA license, you become liable, not the person who bought it. Be cautious if you are trying to sell R12 Freon on auction sites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.
The bill was then signed into law by California Governor Gavin Newsom in October 2022. As part of the bill, the sale of R-410a will be banned starting on January 1, 2030.
The EPA has rules about the purchasing of refrigerant according to its Clean Air Act, Section 608, 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F. The rules state that those who purchase R-410A or any other ozone-depleting substance or ODS must have EPA certification.
R22 (also known as HCFC-22) is a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) once widely used as a refrigerant. If your home or office AC is over 10 years old, it's probably using R22 freon. However, R22 Freon is banned in the U.S. today.
At FluoroFusion, we are committed to providing the refrigerant industry with responsible, beneficial lifecycle management solutions. When you participate in our R-410A Buyback program, we'll pay you for HFCs and HCFCs – with no obligation to buy from us!
R-410A refrigerant prices range from $40 to $75 per pound. To replace R-410A refrigerant in your leaky AC, you will need to hire an HVAC professional since the EPA prohibits handling AC refrigerant without a license.
If you want to sell locally, Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are top choices. Craigslist: Ideal for selling used AC units. It's simple to list, and you can connect directly with buyers in your area. Facebook Marketplace: A user-friendly platform that allows you to tap into your social network for quick sales.
To be certified, technicians must be trained by an EPA-approved program and pass a test demonstrating their knowledge in these areas. The following companies and programs are approved by EPA to train and certify individuals under section 609 of the Clean Air Act.
History of the Freon Ban
In 1992, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began phasing out R-22. It was banned from all new cars sold in the country beginning in 1995 and stopped being used in new air conditioning systems, heat pumps, and refrigeration systems in 2010.
Refrigerant Finders is a nationwide refrigerant collection program. We pay top dollar for your used Freon and offer convenient pickup, drop-off, and mail-in options.
In general, if the refrigerant is not contaminated it can be recycled and reused. You can typically take the non contaminated refrigerant back to the wholesaler for exchange. If the refrigerant is contaminated, you'll need to send it to a reclamation facility.
As an HVAC contractor, it is your responsibility to properly recover refrigerant whenever you come across it on a job site. Not only is it the right thing to do, it is required by law. But, the great news is that you can make money off of the reclaimed refrigerant with the Clean Exchange Program at CE.
Our job is to ensure that our reclaimed refrigerant meets the same standards as virgin product. This means it is reprocessed to AHRI 700 standard and can be sold to be used in other systems.
A-Gas makes selling your old refrigerants easy. We purchase refrigerants in any condition and supply all necessary shipping documents.
Freon costs $50 to $150 per pound to refill a home AC and $4 to $21 per pound when buying wholesale. A 25lb tank of R410A costs $75 to $200. *Most central air conditioners need 2 to 4 pounds to recharge the refrigerant.
Regulatory Changes: As the phase-out continues to restrict production levels and importation, the R-410A price will likely increase. Manufacturing Costs: Fluctuations in the cost of raw materials and manufacturing can also influence the price of refrigerants.
Refrigerants made of chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and hydrofluorocarbons may only be sold to certified technicians, buyers that employ at least one certified technician, or certified wholesalers or appliance manufacturers for eventual resale.
The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, continually strives to create a more sustainable planet, and one of its latest proposals drives that goal forward. In December 2022, the EPA unveiled a refrigerant ban that will go into effect between 2025 and 2026 (depending on the industry).
The penalties for any violations of the Clean Air Act include: Civil fines of up to $44,539 per day per violation (as of 2017) Criminal prosecution in US Federal Court (5 years, or double if it's a second offense) Confiscation of violating substances (refrigerants)
Chlorofluorocarbons. The production of chlorofluorocarbons, commonly known as CFCs, was banned in the 1990s. The refrigerant, which contains chlorine, has a huge environmental impact. In fact, a 1974 report stated that CFCs would eventually deplete the planet's ozone layer.
Notice that R-11 has the highest ODP of 1. R-11 is the most destructive refrigerant and we compare all other refrigerants against it. Note also that R-11 is a CFC, which we have already discussed is the most destructive refrigerant to ozone.
In 2010, the U.S. stopped the sale of newly manufactured residential air conditioning units and heat pumps that use R-22 because of its particularly harmful impact on the ozone layer when released into the air.