R-22 refrigerant (aka “Freon”), used as a refrigerant in the AC systems of most homes, businesses, restaurants and stores built before 2010, is being gradually phased out by the EPA under the Montreal Protocol. Recent actions by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding HCFC’s have led to uncertainty about the availability of R-22 (“Freon”) in the coming months and years. As a result, the cost of R-22 refrigerant doubled in 2013 after more than doubling in 2012. To put the issue in perspective, the current price of Freon is more than twelve times what it was in 2004, and it is anyone’s guess how high Freon prices will go as supplies of Freon continue to be reduced by the EPA.
Unfortunately, this means that the cost to repair R-22 based air conditioning systems has risen dramatically for our customers and that it will likely continue to rise. If an existing R-22 based air conditioner develops a leak, recharging the system with R-22 is becoming increasingly expensive. As such, when a refrigerant leak situation develops, it may be a better economic choice in the long run to replace the entire air conditioning system with a new one that uses the more environmentally friendly and less expensive R-410a refrigerant (aka “Puron”). Although the price of Puron used to be much higher than Freon, they have now switched places economically because Puron prices are dropping as quickly as Freon prices are rising.
March 21st, 2022
How to Combat Humidity with Help from Our St. Louis Heating and Air Experts Moist, humid air feels like you’re wrapped in a hot towel. And it’s...
March 7th, 2022
How Our St. Louis Heating and Air Company Can Save You Money on a New Residential Air Conditioner To purchase new HVAC components requires pre-plan...
December 25th, 2021
Improve the Indoor Air Quality in Your St. Louis Home Keeping your home clean and hygienic has always been a concern, but it’s even more so now a...
December 18th, 2021
Are You Following Furnace Air Filter Replacement Guidelines in Your St. Louis Home? Your furnace filter is a hardworking, disposable piece of your ...