R-422 refrigerant (most commonly R-422D or R-422B) is a non-ozone-depleting HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) blend primarily used as a direct "drop-in" replacement for R-22 in residential, commercial, and industrial air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
Mixing refrigerants is always a no-no.
An R-22 Refrigerant Replacement for Direct Expansion Refrigeration. Freon™ MO29 (R-422D) refrigerant is a low-toxicity, non-ozone depleting hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) replacement for R-22.
Because of environmental regulations, you cannot buy R-22, but an HVAC company can purchase R-22. It's getting harder to find R-22 refrigerant for sale, but some HVAC supply houses and online stores have a limited amount that has been recovered, recycled, and reclaimed from retired units.
The liquid densities are approximately the same for R22 and R422D, while the vapor density is higher for R422D than that for R22. Both the liquid heat capacity and the vapor heat capacity are 15–25% higher for R422D, and the difference increases with the increase of the pressure.
Yes, R-422B (often sold as NU-22B) is a "near" drop-in replacement for R-22 in most residential and commercial air conditioning and refrigeration systems. It is designed to safely mimic R-22 operating pressures without requiring an expensive, time-consuming compressor oil change.
R-22 is banned because it is a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) that severely damages the earth's ozone layer and contributes to global climate change. Under the international Montreal Protocol and the U.S. EPA regulations, the production and import of R-22 were phased out to protect public health and the environment.
R-22 refrigerant typically costs between $𝟗𝟎 and $𝟐𝟓𝟎 per pound. Because R-22 has been phased out, the supply is dwindling, which causes prices to continuously climb.
A2L refrigerants, the new refrigerants for 2026, will replace R-410A in new systems. A lot about A2L refrigerants is explained in their name: The “A” means low toxicity. The “2L” is a safety classification, indicating it is mildly flammable.
Freon MO99 is the gold standard for R-22 alternatives and was developed by the same scientists who engineered Freon R-22. The benefits of Freon MO99 include: Capacity — The ability of Freon MO99 to heat or cool a given space is closer to Freon R-22 than any other refrigerant on the market.
A 30-pound cylinder of R-22 refrigerant is generally worth between $500 and $1,200 to purchase wholesale, and up to $2,400 to $4,500 if bought directly from a service company during a home repair.
R422D (often sold under brand names like Freon™ MO29 or ISCEON™ MO29) is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerant primarily used as a retrofit "drop-in" replacement for R22 in existing air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
January 1, 2025: Manufacturers stopped producing new R-410A residential split systems and heat pumps. Equipment manufactured before this date can still be sold and installed. January 1, 2026: The original deadline for installing R-410A split systems manufactured before 2025.
Description. R-422D is a great replacement for R-22 and comes in a 25 pound cylinder. HCFC-22 is a high capacity, efficient refrigerant employed in a significant number of air conditioning systems. The majority of these systems utilize mineral oil lubricants.
The best replacement for R-22 depends on your system's configuration. Because R-22 is fully phased out, the most common drop-in substitutes are R-438A (MO99), R-407C, and RS-44b (R-453A). These allow for system retrofits, though complete system replacement is often recommended for aging units.
While R-407C is the closest match to R-22 in terms of pressures and cooling capacity, it is not a true "drop-in" replacement. You cannot simply pour it into an existing R-22 system without professional modifications and a full evacuation.
As of January 1, 2020, the United States banned the use of the R22 refrigerant, commonly known as Freon.
R-410A replaced R-22 in two distinct phases mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
If you're interested in learning how to refill R22 in your air conditioner, it is important to know that this is not something a homeowner can do on their own. Due to complexity, safety concerns, training and licensing required we do not recommend doing this without having a trained professional onsite.
R-22 refrigerant typically costs between $𝟗𝟎 and $𝟐𝟓𝟎 per pound. Because R-22 has been phased out, the supply is dwindling, which causes prices to continuously climb.
Can you mix R422B with R-22? No, mixing R422B with R-22 is not recommended. The two refrigerants have different chemical properties, and mixing them can lead to reduced performance and potential system damage.
R-422B is compatible with Mineral Oil (MO), Alkylbenzene (AB), and Polyolester (POE) oils.
Yes, R-22 (Freon) is still available for servicing older HVAC and refrigeration units, but it can no longer be manufactured or imported in the U.S. Today, technicians rely entirely on recycled, reclaimed, and existing stockpiled supplies, which makes it very expensive.
You cannot just switch refrigerants because R410-A and R-22 have different chemical properties. R410-A operates at a higher pressure. If you put R410-A into an R-22 system, the parts will rupture due to the increased force. You can convert your current system to one that runs on R-410A, but the cost will be high.
Yes, MO99 (also known as R-438A) is a direct, "no-oil-change" drop-in replacement for R-22. It is specifically engineered to replace R-22 in residential and commercial air conditioning, heat pumps, and refrigeration systems.