If you have an old air conditioner or heat pump that uses freon, it’s time to think about making a change. Freon is a chemical coolant, or refrigerant, that facilitates the transfer of heat from one place to another. Known as R-22 in the heating, cooling, and refrigeration industry, Freon has been used for several decades, but not anymore. This is because chemical refrigerants are harmful to the environment, including the O zone layer. And as soon as this scientific evidence was confirmed, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with several other environmental agencies from around the world, came together to ratify the phase out of Freon. If you own an older air conditioner, continue reading to learn about phasing out Freon and how it affects the heating and cooling of your property.
freon phase out
Environmental protection agencies around the world enacted a freon phase-out several years ago to eliminate the threat of chemical refrigerants to our surrounding environment, namely our ozone zone layer. With years of hard work, chemical engineers and HVAC specialists were able to create an environmentally friendly replacement for R-22 called R-410A, better known as puron. So, in 2010, HVAC manufacturers stopped producing Freon-dependent appliances altogether and began producing only systems designed to use Puron. Per this removal, Freon can only be used to recharge HVAC systems until January 1, 2020. After this date, Freon will be completely phased out and will no longer be available.
get rid of freon
If you own an air conditioning system that uses freon as a refrigerant, you can expect some difficulties until this coming date in 2020. Since freon is being phased out, the market supply has drastically reduced. This means that Freon is hard to find and very expensive. Recharging your HVAC system will be tedious and expensive for the next four years. And in 2020, you will have no choice but to replace your system with a new one, as Freon will be gone forever. For these reasons and more, it’s important to consider replacing your air conditioner with a newer model as soon as possible. Not only will you reduce energy bills and maintenance costs, but you’ll be much safer for the environment!
Don’t waste your time fixing refrigerant leaks or mechanical problems on an air conditioner that is still using Freon. It is more cost effective to replace your entire air conditioning system and avoid the imminent hassle of using freon. Eventually, you’ll need to invest in a freon-free system anyway, so it’s best to start now!
How to safely dispose of an old air conditioner
When it’s time to replace your old air conditioner with a new one, don’t throw your old air conditioner away. This is not only highly dangerous and illegal, but it is a perfectly good waste of money. This is because you can sell your old appliances to a junk buyer and make a quick cash profit. You can then use this money towards the purchase of your new air conditioner. Before selling your air conditioner to a junkyard, it is important that you first learn how to dispose of R-22 and R-410A refrigerants legally and safely.
To do this, you must hire a certified professional to remove the refrigerants from your old air conditioning unit. Some junkyards have professionals they work with who perform this service for them, while others require the coolants to be removed before they can be accepted. Check with your local junk buyer to see what their requirements are for disposing of an old air conditioner. You can also search for Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) organizations in your area if you want to get rid of your appliances without selling them to a junk buyer.