R22 was one of the most commonly used HCFC refrigerants in air-conditioning and refrigeration plant. In the 1990s R22 was identified as an ozone-depleting refrigerant with potentially hazardous environmental impact, and steps were taken to phase out its use, along with other CFCs.
How R22 Was Phased Out
The phase-out took place between 2000 and 2015, as stipulated by the Ozone Regulation, EU Regulation EC no. 2037/2000 then later EC No. 1005/2009 on ozone depleting substances. From 2000, R22 and other HCFCs were banned in new air conditioning systems, but they could still be used in existing systems. We could use new R22 for service and maintenance up to 2010, and recycled R22 up to 2015. Since 2015 Air conditioning and refrigeration contractors could not use R22 in any system.
What This Means For A/C Systems That Still Use R22
The law did not oblige end users/owners to modify or replace their plant after 2015, so there are quite a few A/C systems that still use R22 refrigerant. This is not a problem if an R22 based system is running fine and has no problems. However, if a fault or maintenance requires the removal of the refrigerant for any reason, it is illegal to put it back in the system. R22 refrigerant cannot be replaced, so system owners are living on borrowed time. Any fault is likely to require the complete replacement of your system.
Options For R22 A/C System Owners
Old air-conditioning systems (as R22 systems invariably are) are prone to developing simple faults with no notice. On any other system these faults would be cheap and easy to fix, but with an R22 system you will have the expense and disruption of having to replace the entire system at short notice. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you take one of the two action points below, and do not wait for a fault to occur.
1) Replace Your Plant With A Newer Model
This is the more expensive option and has the longest implementation time, but is the most cost-effective long term. New AC systems are energy efficient and come with a 20 to 30 year life cycle. When working with ACE Services, we can design you a new AC plant that uses the latest cooling technologies and is built to service your requirements.
2) Modify Your R22 System To Use An Alternative Refrigerant
If you need fast implementation or have a limited budget, then you can modify your current plant to use a different ‘drop –in’ refrigerant. There are plenty of alternative refrigerant sources, such as the commonly used R407C or R134a.. The downside to this option is that it does nothing to address the efficiency issues of having an old system and when replacing R22 with a drop-in replacement up to 30% cooling capacity and efficiency can be lost, Plus you can still be faced with mounting repair bills as your plant reaches the end of its life-cycle.. Some plant designs are also not suitable for modification and will need to be upgraded to new equipment.
Start Taking Action Now
In the case of an emergency breakdown, you will be under pressure to replace your system as quickly as possible. You therefore may not have time to review all your options and find the best deal for your premises. We recommend you chat with us as soon as possible and discuss a suitable option for your premises. This will give you the best chance of minimising your costs and securing a reliable, energy-efficient plant for your building.
If you have concerns about your AC system and want to see how improvements can be made, please refer to our Commercial Air Conditioning Checklist. This sets out a maintenance blueprint you can follow to remedy installation errors and reduce your repair bill. Give us a call today to chat about our planned preventative maintenance (PPM) services and spread the cost of your AC repairs.