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R22 Refrigerant is a chemical that keeps the air coming from your air conditioning system cool, so it’s unquestionably incredibly important. Most air conditioning units older than 10 years utilize an AC refrigerant called R22 that’s commonly identified as Freon*, and is noted by the EPA as HCFC-22. This refrigerant was introduced in the 1950s and became the leading AC refrigerant in the residential heating and cooling industry. Fast forward a few decades and the world realized that R22 Refrigerant was aiding in the depletion of the Earth’s ozone layer. Not a great thing. So, the U.S. EPA, in cooperation with other agencies and groups around the world, initiated a phase out of many ozone-depleting agents as part of an international agreement known as the Montreal Protocol. The regulation lists many HCFCs and CFCs (different types of refrigerants that deplete the ozone layer), but R22 is considered one of the worst offenders. In 2003, the phase out of R22 production and imports began. By early 2010 the production and import of R22 became prohibited. However, servicing current, existing equipment is still acceptable if there is an available supply of R22. To confirm the public’s compliance with the new law, all sales of R22 must be purchased by a certified technician. The production and import of R22 will be continually reduced by law until 2020, when all production and import will be eliminated. Only recycled R22 Refrigerant will be available to service existing air conditioners after 2020
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