What Kind of Freon Does a Central Air Unit Take?

R-22

• R-22 refrigerant, also known as Freon, was the coolant of choice for air conditioning systems for about forty years. But R-22 contains hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC), which damage the Earth’s ozone layer. After Dec. 31, 2009, U.S. law prohibited manufacturers from producing air conditioners that use R-22. In addition, those companies that produced R-22 refrigerant were limited to manufacturing only enough to satisfy the needs of existing systems.

R-410A

• Manufacturers developed less harmful substitutes for R-22, the most common of which is R-410A. This blend, while still including chlorine as an ingredient, is less harmful to the ozone layer. R-401A sells under a variety of trade names and similar products are also on the market. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maintains a list of approved R-22 substitute refrigerants, which includes R-410A.

Montreal Protocol

• In 1987, the world’s developed nations signed an agreement to phase out HCFC contaminants. The agreement, known as the Montreal Protocol, was amended in 1992 and laid out plans for the eventual elimination of HCFCs. The United States enacted the Clean Air Act as a result. Title VI of that act calls for reduction of R-22 by 2010 and its elimination by 2020 except for what is recycled or reclaimed.

Existing Units

• Air conditioners that run on R-22 are not designed to accept substitute refrigerants which typically run at higher pressures with better efficiencies. The long lead time between phase out and elimination of R-22 makes it possible to keep older units running until they must be replaced. Few R-22 units currently in operation are likely to continue operating by 2020. Those that do will be serviced with reclaimed R-22.