Short answer: R-22 ("freon") hasn't been made or imported since 2020. If your AC still uses it, every refrigerant repair gets harder to justify. Call us and we'll walk you through your options.
Why R-22 matters
R-22 was the standard refrigerant in home air conditioners for years. The EPA ended its production and import on January 1, 2020. After that date, the only R-22 you can buy is recovered, recycled or reclaimed. Nobody is making more.
That doesn't mean your system stops working. You can keep running an R-22 AC and have it serviced. What changes is the math on repairs. When a leak needs a recharge, you're paying for a refrigerant that is getting harder to find, on a system that is already old.
How to tell if your AC runs on R-22
Look at the label on the outdoor unit. It names the refrigerant. If the label is faded or you can't reach it, call us and tell us how old the system is. Very old systems are the ones that run on R-22.
Signs it may be time to replace
- The system needs a recharge, and it's not the first one.
- It's old and the repairs keep coming.
- The unit is 12 to 15 years old or more.
- A major part, like the compressor, has failed. See AC compressor failed.
One more repair on an R-22 system makes less sense each year. A system that's replaced on your schedule is usually easier on you than one that quits in July. If it already has, see emergency AC replacement.
What a replacement involves
- Call us and tell us what you have. Age, what it's doing, and anything you can read off the unit.
- We confirm the details and book a time.
- We look at your system.
- We walk you through your options before any work starts.
- We remove the old unit and set the new system. A proper replacement recovers the old refrigerant before the equipment comes out.
- We test the system before we leave.
What replaces R-22
New residential AC equipment can no longer ship with R-410A, which was the refrigerant that came after R-22. Most makers now use R-454B. R-410A is still legal to service, but supply is being cut and it costs more than it used to.
A new system also has to meet the Texas efficiency minimum. For a split-system AC under 45,000 BTU/h, that's 14.3 SEER2 if it's installed on or after January 1, 2023. You can read how that works in high-efficiency AC replacement.
If your old system is an AC and furnace pair, they're often replaced together. See AC and furnace replacement.
Questions
Can I still get R-22 freon?
Only in limited supply. The EPA ended production and import of R-22 on January 1, 2020. Since then, the only R-22 available is recovered, recycled or reclaimed.
Do I have to replace my R-22 AC?
No. You can keep running an R-22 system and have it serviced. The problem is that each repair that needs refrigerant gets harder to justify, because the supply is limited.
How do I know if my AC uses R-22?
The label on the outdoor unit lists the refrigerant type. If you can't read it, call us and tell us the age and what you see.
What do new systems use?
Since January 2025, new residential AC equipment can no longer ship with R-410A. Most makers now use R-454B.
Have an old freon system?
Call us, tell us what you have, and we'll talk through your options.