Phasing Out HCFC

Refrigerants To Protect

The Ozone Layer

What you need to know when 

servicing or replacing an air conditioner

in your home

EPA Ozone Web Site 

http://www.epa.gov/ozone/

EPA Stratospheric Ozone Information Hotline 

1.800.296.1996

ENERGY STAR Web Site

http://www.energystar.gov/

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Mail Code 6205J

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20460-0001

Disclaimer

EPA promotes energy efficiency and the safe use of 

ozone- friendly substances, and does not endorse any 

particular company or its products. 

HCFCs and the Ozone Layer

The stratospheric ozone layer shields the Earth 

from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation.

Emissions of certain synthetic chemicals – including

CFCs, halons, and HCFCs – destroy the ozone 

layer, and have created an “ozone hole” over the

South Pole.

Through the Montreal Protocol on Substances 

that Deplete the Ozone Layer, the United States 

committed to a collaborative, international effort 

to regulate and phase out ozone-depleting 

substances. While the US phased out of CFCs 

and halons in the mid 90’s, we now must first 

limit HCFC consumption to a specific level 

and then reduce it in a step-wise fashion. 

Phaseout of R-22 and R142b 

HCFC-22 (also called R-22) and HCFC-142b are the

next two HCFCs that the United States will phase

out. The schedule to phase out HCFCs is:

January 1, 2010

Ban on production and import of HCFC-22 and

HCFC-142b except for continuing servicing needs 

of existing equipment

January 1, 2015

Ban on sale and use of all HCFCs except for 

certain uses, including continuing servicing needs 

of refrigeration equipment

January 1, 2020 

Ban on remaining production and import of 

HCFC-22 and HCFC-142b

After 2020, the servicing of systems with R-22 

will rely on recycled or stockpiled quantities.
Hydrochlorofluorocarbons, or HCFCs, are chemicals

that are mainly used as refrigerants. Unfortunately,

releases of HCFCs deplete the Earth’s protective

ozone layer.

R-22 is an HCFC refrigerant that is often used in 

air-conditioning equipment. To protect the Earth’s 

protective ozone layer, the United States is phasing

out R-22, along with other chemicals. 

As the United States phases out refrigerant R-22, 

you will need to make informed choices when 

servicing, repairing, or replacing an existing 

air-conditioning unit or when purchasing a 

new unit. EPA has not banned the use or sale of

equipment that contains R-22. However as a 

homeowner, you need to consider and balance 

several key factors in your decision to purchase a

new unit, such as energy efficiency, performance,

reliability, cost, and the refrigerant used.

The lengthy phaseout period allows you to replace

your air-conditioning equipment that contains R-22

when you normally would, for instance if it becomes

old, inefficient, or ineffective. Realizing that supplies

of R-22 will become more limited and that the price 

may increase should also be factors. In the 

meantime, R-22 remains available for servicing

equipment made before 2010.

Choosing an efficient system that uses ozone-friendly

refrigerants has important environmental benefits! 

Availability and Cost of R-22

✜ R-22 is a refrigerant that is often used in 

air-conditioning equipment.

✜ Because R-22 depletes the ozone layer, production 

and import will be further limited in 2010. 

✜ In 2020, R-22 will no longer be produced 

or imported. After 2020, only recovered, recycled, 

or reclaimed supplies of R-22 will be available.

✜ The production (not use) of R-22 is being phased 

out. You are not required to stop using R-22 

air conditioners nor to replace existing equipment.

✜ The phaseout period provides time to switch to 

ozone-friendly refrigerants when you normally 

would replace your air conditioner. 

✜ In the future, R-22 supplies will be more limited 

and costs to service equipment with R-22 may rise. 

Servicing Systems with R-22

✜ You may continue to have your equipment 

containing R-22 serviced.

✜ The most important thing you can do is to 

maintain your unit properly. Appropriate servicing 

minimizes potential environmental damage and 

maintenance costs. 

✜ It is important to select a reliable service 

contractor. Technicians must have EPA Section 608 

certification to service equipment containing R-22. 

✜ Request that service technicians locate and repair 

leaks instead of “topping off” leaking systems. This 

protects the ozone layer and saves you money 

by optimizing performance of your existing 

equipment. 

✜ It is illegal to intentionally release any refrigerant 

when making repairs. Technicians must use 

refrigerant recovery equipment during service. 

✜ To use alternative refrigerants in exisiting 

equipment generally the equipment needs to 

be modified.

Buying a New Air Conditioner

✜ Air-conditioning systems that use R-22 are still 

available, and R-22 may be produced for use in 

newly manufactured equipment until the end of 

2009. 

✜ You may still purchase a system that contains R-22,

but supplies of R-22 will be more limited after 

2010. 

✜ Systems that use alternative refrigerants that do 

not harm the ozone layer are available and will 

become more common.

✜ New energy efficient air conditioners save energy 

costs. Even if your airconditioner is only ten years 

old, you may save significantly on your energy 

costs by replacing it with a newer, more efficient 

model. 

✜ Energy efficiency is measured by the seasonal 

energy efficiency ratio (SEER). The higher the 

ratio, the more efficient the equipment.

✜ A central air-conditioner that has earned the 

ENERGY STAR® label is at least 14% more efficient

than a standard new system and can save you 

money on your cooling bill. 

✜ ENERGY STAR® qualified systems are available for 

both R-22 and alternative (R-410A) systems. 

Alternative Refrigerants 

✜ R-410A is manufactured and sold under various 

trade names, including GENTRON AZ-20®, 

SUVA® 410A and PURON®.

✜ The most common alternative to R-22 is R-410A, 

a non-ozone-depleting HFC refrigerant blend.

✜ EPA reviews alternative refrigerants and maintains 

a list of acceptable substitutes for household and 

light commercial air conditioning.

✜ It is illegal to intentionally release refrigerant 

substitutes when making repairs. Technicians must 

take efforts to avoid releases during service.