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.
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.
A High-Performing Alternative to R-134a
Opteon™ XL10 (R-1234yf) refrigerant is a non-ozone depleting (ODP) hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) option that meets the industry's growing demands for sustainable, safe, and effective solutions.
Freon has been banned in the U.S. since 2020, but some homes still use Freon-based AC units. Here's what the ban means for these homeowners. The air conditioning refrigerant Freon has been banned in the U.S. since January 2020, prompting major changes in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry.
The Phaseout of R22 Refrigerant
By January 1, 2030, the government will ban all production and import of HCFCs, including R-22.
As of January 1, 2020, production and import of R22 refrigerant will be illegal in the United States. Of course, continued use of your air conditioner (AC) or heat pump system using R22 refrigerant is allowed.
Why Is R-134A Being Phased Out? When Is the Phaseout Expected to Conclude? Like a lot of '90s relics, R-134A has not aged well. It was known then that 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane could potentially contribute to acid rain and that its ozone layer depletion potential was high.
R-454B is the new refrigerant in 2024. By 2025, the EPA's required phaseout of R-410A will be in full effect, with production, importation, and distribution no longer allowed. HVACR businesses must be evaluating their current choices in coolant and ready to make the jump.
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.
If your air conditioner currently uses R-410A, it will still work after the phase-out begins. In fact, R-410A will continue to be produced until 2040. However, as its availability decreases, you can expect the price of R-410A refrigerant to rise by 20-25%.
Internal heat exchanger for R1234yf refrigerant (photo: NRF) As you can see from the above description, R134a and R1234yf refrigerants are not completely identical and their substitution will always result in faster degradation of the A/C system and eventually lead to costly repairs.
R513A was developed as a replacement refrigerant for R134a. R513A is a modern, non-flammable refrigerant designed to replace R134a in a wide range of applications. It provides a sustainable solution for both new systems and retrofits.
HFC-134a will no longer be allowed in nonroad vehicles as of January 1, 2028. Servicing of existing vehicles using HFC-134a with HFC-134a will not be impacted and will continue to be allowed.
What refrigerant will replace R-410A in 2025? For whole-home systems, Lennox has chosen 2025 Compliant Refrigerant R-454B due to its excellent performance for ducted systems and zero ozone depletion potential. For mini-splits, we selected R-32, designed to optimize efficiency and reliability in ductless systems.
R-22 (Chlorodifluoromethane), also known as R22 Freon or HCFC-22 Freon, was a common refrigerant for HVAC systems. It is now a banned refrigerant that is illegal to import or manufacture.
R-1234yf refrigerant. To date, most auto manufacturers are using the hydro fluoro olefin (HFO) refrigerant R-1234yf as the replacement of choice for R134a.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has banned R22 freon in the country. Why? R22 contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer – which absorbs the ultraviolet radiation from the sun and protects us from its harmful effects – and the ecosystem in general.
R1234yf, or HFO-1234yf, was introduced in response to environmental concerns over the continued use of HFC-134a. This newer refrigerant is a hydrofluoro olefin (HFO). It has a much lower global warming potential (GWP) compared to HFC-134a.
HVAC Regulation and Refrigerant Changes
Starting in 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) raised the minimum energy efficiency standards for HVAC systems. For homeowners, this means that any new air conditioning unit installed must meet higher Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) ratings.
R-22 is an HCFC refrigerant that is often used in air-conditioning equipment. To protect the Earth's protective ozone layer, the United States is phasing out R-22, along with other chemicals.
How much will an R-22 to R-410A conversion cost? The actual cost will depend on many things, including where you live, but most of the time R-22 conversions start at around $2,000 and go up from there. The higher end of that range is somewhere around $4,500 to $4,600.
No. R32 is not suitable as a drop-in replacement for R410A and must only be used in systems specifically designed for R32.
Still, the answer is an emphatic, “No.” Not only would a retrofit of this type negate the environmental benefits of R-1234yf, but it would also be a violation of Federal Law under Section 203 of the Clean Air Act: “tampering” with a vehicle's emissions control device.
R134a has been found to have a lot of greenhouse gas potential, as it can end up in the atmosphere and take forever to break down. For that reason, all new vehicles sold in America after the year 2021 can no longer use this type of refrigerant.
No, the compressor will fail. These two refrigerants have very different properties. One of R22 and R134a is high pressure and the other is low pressure. They don't mix chemically and don't have the same boiling point, leading to inefficiencies and eventual compressor failure.