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The Freon®/R22 Phaseout

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The Los Angeles Homeowner’s Guide to the Freon®/R22 Phaseout

January 1, 2020 marked an important change in the heating and cooling industry. A refrigerant that is common to many residential air conditioner units in LA named Freon is in the last stages of a government phaseout.

Because air conditioners are instrumental in leading a comfortable life here in Southern California, we felt it was essential to provide all the relevant information to our customers and neighbors. Brody Pennell Heating & Air Conditioning has been serving the Greater Los Angeles area since 1945. We know that LA homeowners trust our knowledge and experience. So when it comes to regulatory changes like the R22 phaseout, you can rest assured we’ll be here answering all of your questions.

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Ready to get started with your service or repairs? Schedule your appointment online, or give us a call at (310) 810-2721.

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Lingo to Know: Refrigerant Types

There are several types of coolant used in air conditioners today, and to add to the confusion, the chemicals go by several different names.

R-22 refrigerant also goes by R22 or Freon.

R410A refrigerant goes by R-410A or sometimes, Puron.

Will the Freon Phaseout Affect You?

The Freon phaseout will have some impact on you if your air conditioning unit uses the refrigerant. Luckily, it’s straightforward to find out whether this is the case.

Head outside and look at your air conditioner unit. Somewhere on the outside, you’ll find a label with data and information about the unit. Look for a line item on the chart for refrigerant or refrigerant type. Most likely, the printed data will state that your unit contains R22 or R410A refrigerant.

Here’s a pro-tip our NATE-certified technicians use all the time. If the data label on your air conditioner is in a tight spot to see clearly (or if your eyesight is going… no judgment!), use your smartphone to capture a flash picture of the data label.

If the data label on your air conditioner reads R22 or Freon, the Freon phaseout impacts your system. Keep reading to learn more about what the phaseout is and how it can influence decisions for your home.

My AC uses Freon. What does that mean?

If your AC uses Freon, get informed. There are a few things you need to know about the chemical that’s cooling your Los Angeles home.

  • The refrigerant cannot be produced after January 1, 2020
  • Air conditioners with R22 are getting older, so they will need more repairs
  • Because the supply of R22 is limited, the cost of AC repairs will rise

My LA home uses R22 refrigerant. What are my options?

The short answer is this: you will need to replace your air conditioner sometime soon, probably in the next year or two.

Air conditioners are not built to work forever. And while proper maintenance can extend the life of your unit to 15 years or longer, most air conditioners last around ten years. And given that the final units built for R22 refrigerant were in 2010, it means the time for your air conditioner to be replaced could be sooner rather than later.

But – should you replace now or hold on to the bitter end? The first thing to do is to evaluate the situation. There are several questions that will help guide your decision. Consider these questions:

  • Comfort – Does your air conditioner provide adequate comfort to you and your family? Or, is your air conditioner struggling to perform? How about noise: is your A/C particularly loud or noisy?
  • Repairs – Have you had to call on us for AC repair more than once in the last two years?
  • Service – Has the air conditioner received annual air conditioner maintenance visits from a qualified professional?
  • Utility Bills – Are your energy bills rising year over year? Is your electricity bill much higher than your neighbors? Do you want to improve the energy efficiency of your home?
  • Timeline – Do you anticipate any significant life events in the next few years, such as retirement, selling the home, or a change in employment?


With more information about your unique situation, you’ll be better equipped to decide what to do.

Option 1: Wait it Out

If you don’t have any apparent comfort problems with your Freon air conditioner, you might choose to do nothing. This is a perfectly acceptable option. One positive note on this path is that you won’t have any expenses, for now anyway. It may give you a little time to start socking away funds for the replacement air conditioner.

Here’s the risk with this path: it’s not a matter of if your air conditioner will break down, but when. And when it does, we can guarantee it will not be at a time that it’s convenient not to have air conditioning in your home. Another downside of waiting is that R22 refrigerant will get more expensive. Although many contractors have stockpiled R22 before the ban on the production, the only way to replenish the stockpile is with recycled refrigerant. As the years go on, Freon will get more and more expensive as it becomes scarce.

So, while you may be trying to save money up-front, keep in mind your future repair will be more costly.

Option 2: Investigate Replacement

A new air conditioner can cost as much as a nice vacation. So we understand – it’s not particularly fun or exciting to imagine spending your hard-earned cash this way. However, there is a significant benefit to looking down the replacement path. But because your air conditioner is already running just fine, now is the perfect time to shop for a new air conditioner.

Just think: if your AC stops working, and the repair is too costly, you may decide that it’s best to replace it. Unless you want to endure the Los Angeles summer for a few weeks, you need to make a quick decision! And you’ll be subject to whatever product pricing and availability there is on that day.

By researching a new air conditioner while your current R22 system is still running, you can keep an eye out for specials or rebates. And, you can talk with our team about financing, which can make the cost of a new air conditioner much more palatable.

Brody Pennell can help with your Freon Phaseout questions

Unsure of what to do? We are here for you – yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Serving the greater LA area for 75 years, we are recognized by our customers as knowledgeable, professional, and caring. We put your interests first, every time. So if you have questions about the R22 phaseout, put your trust in Brody Pennell to make a recommendation. Schedule a visit by one of our trained professionals, and we’ll provide our expert opinion on your best course of action. Give us a call today at 424-455-0173.

Steve D.
Louis did an excellent job at explaining and showing us photos of our broken/old heater and air conditioning unit. He also explained how the additional damage surrounding areas was caused. He answered our questions and was very cordial.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Steve, for your kind words about Louis and his thorough explanation of your heater and air conditioning unit; we appreciate your feedback!
Bijan J.
Showed up on time, clean, respectful, courteous, and knowledgeable. You couldn’t ask for anything better than that. I recommend them highly.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Bijan, for your fantastic review! We're grateful for your kind words and are glad our team met your expectations. Your recommendation means a lot to us!
Barry T.
Juan Molina, my Technician, was very professional. Juan gave my Payne system a through inspection, changed my filter and , clearly explained the condition & limitations of my Payne HVAC system. Which I appreciated. Juan was very professional and personable. Very happy and will be asking for Juan when my maintenance appointments come up! He was a pleasure to deal with. Very conscientious & professional.
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing your experience with Benny! We appreciate your feedback and are glad to hear that he provided you with such great service. We look forward to seeing you at your next maintenance appointment!
Tomas J.
John did an amazing job! He was extremely professional, knowledgeable, and immediately diagnosed the problem with my heater.
He was able to change the part and fix the issue in 1 hour.
I would recommend his services anytime.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Tomas, for your kind words about John's exceptional work; we're glad he could quickly resolve your heater issue and appreciate your recommendation!
Marcel R.
Oscar from Brody Pennel was great! Walked me through everything he was doing and was very knowledgeable.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a 5 star review!
Sue D.
Always on time, courteous and thorough.

Jonathan went over the top in examining my new HVAC to make sure everything was working properly. (It was!)
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words, Sue Doyle! We appreciate your feedback.
ellen K.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Ellen, for your wonderful 5-star rating; we truly appreciate your support!
Tim D.
We had the pleasure of having Brody Pennell Technician, David Mares, perform our annual Comfort Club heater inspection. David’s review found carbon monoxide levels at the heating units and vent locations. He called his field supervisor, Kyle Rudolf, and requested his presence to further assess our system. Kyle performed a thorough inspection of the heater interiors with a digital borescope and captured images of locations that showed where leakage was occurring. He recommended replacing our system due to its age and explained our options. Both David’s and Kyle’s thorough information, explanations and politeness made our choice of replacing our system an easy one.

The crew of Frank Trejo, Jesus Farias and Edwin Cabra performed our installation. They were extremely diligent about keeping our residence clean and placed protection tarps
along the entire flooring leading to the attic installation entrance. The installation is outstanding and immaculate. Also, the operation of the system was explained at the end of the job. All the crew were extremely polite, and their work was outstanding.

It was a pleasure to have Brody Pennell perform our installation with their great crew. We feel fortunate having such an outstanding company taking care of our HVAC system.

New Review - 3/12/25

Brody Pennell technician Alberto Montalvo performed the service for our heat pump system this morning, 3/12, and did an excellent job. Upon completion, he explained everything that he did and also took the time to show photos detailing the condition of the system. He also provided an option to help prolong the life of our heat pumps. Alberto is extremely polite, knowledgeable and a great asset to Brody Pennell.
Response from the owner:We appreciate your detailed feedback and are grateful for the opportunity to serve you. Our team is dedicated to providing exceptional service, and we're delighted that you had a positive experience with David, Kyle, Frank, Jesus, Edwin, and the rest of the crew. Thank you for choosing Brody Pennell for your HVAC needs!
william M.
Response from the owner:Thank you, William, for the fantastic 5-star rating; your support means a lot to us!
Roberta G.
Justin and Marcus were excellent. They were clear and concise about the work they were doing and what needed to still be done.
Very respectful and helpful.
Response from the owner:We're overjoyed to see your 5-star rating! Thank you for sharing your positive experience with us.
Paul T.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Paul, for your fantastic 5-star rating; we truly appreciate your support!
Marilyn M.
Chris did a great job! Thorough and very courteous. Will definitely ask for him next scheduled service !
Response from the owner:Thank you, Marilyn! We're glad to hear Chris provided thorough and courteous service; we appreciate your feedback and look forward to seeing you next time!
Jane G.
Alejandro Amaro is a fabulous tech! He arrived on time, spent an hour and a half thoroughly inspecting and testing my entire HVAC system. He is polite, knowledgeable, and thorough. Thank you for sending Alejandro. J. Grant
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a 5 star review!
Anne T.
David is an excellent technician and addressed all our questions and concerns. He did very through work, and I would highly recommend Brody.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Anne, for your kind words about David and your recommendation; we appreciate your feedback and are glad to hear you had a positive experience.
ExtravaganzaLLC U.
Anthony Manzo Daniel B completed an exemplary job. They arrive a little early, walked through the process and I brought them to the roof. They were very respectful of our home with appropriate covers to the floor and transit areas. The installation was spot on, the new is a little smaller and we discussed Brody Pennel minor touch. Given I painted the entire home, I thanked them and noted I complete the touch up. The new a/c is amazing - quiet, purifies the air, changes the room temperature in less than ten minutes and I suspect the energy use will be substantially less because of the attached information. Thank you for Anthony and Daniel. The best!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for acknowledging Anthony Manzo Daniel's great work!
Haley N.
They were polite, professional, and knowledgeable. They showed up on time and were easy to communicate with.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Haley, for your kind words; we're glad you found our team polite and knowledgeable, and we appreciate your feedback on our communication and punctuality.
Art Ulene, M.
The technician (Giovanny) was terrific— very knowledgeable about our problem and our complicated heating/AC system. He finished the job quickly and.the charge was reasonable. If we have problems again, this is the company I will call. They have interesting subscription plan that ensures regular maintenance and lower costs in case of trouble. We’re giving serious thought to sign signing up for that.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Art, for your kind words about Giovanny and our services; we're glad to hear he was able to resolve your heating/AC issue quickly and that you're considering our subscription plan for added peace of mind.
Stan A.
Good quick service
Response from the owner:Thank you, Stan, for your kind words about our quick service; we appreciate your support!
Paul H.
Outstanding attention to detail and application of what was needed to help get my system up and running. Conducted all of interaction with professionalism and friendliness. Outstanding field op.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Paul, for your kind words about the attention to detail and professionalism; we appreciate your feedback and are glad to hear your system is up and running smoothly.
Andy F.
The gentleman Brody sent was personable, timely and knowledgeable.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Andy, for your kind words about Brody and the service you received; we appreciate your feedback and are glad you had a positive experience!
Toyota H.
Marco was a very nice man and great at his job.im glad I called them and the service was quick no complaints and will definitely refer someone who is in need of their help
Response from the owner:Thank you, Toyota! We're glad to hear that Marco provided you with great service and that you had a quick experience. Your referrals mean a lot to us!
Nancy C.
I would highly recommend the services by this company! They answered the main phone line after normal business hours, they were polite & prompt. The technician arrived and was friendly, thorough, efficient and repaired the problem quickly. I give them a ten star!!!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Nancy! We appreciate your kind words and are glad to hear our technician made a positive impression while resolving your issue. Your recommendation means a lot to us!
Kelly P
My Brody Pennell technicians Ruben M. did a fantastic job today on servicing my heating unit. He arrived on time and was very professional. He worked quickly and efficiently. Overall, a great job.
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing your experience with us, Kelly! We're glad to hear that Daniel provided excellent and timely service for you.
Isa K.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Isa, for your wonderful 5-star rating; we appreciate your support and look forward to serving you again!
Marc V.
Jeffery Orellana was excellent and did a great job. We will use him every time now.

May '24 We just had them replace our entire HVAC system at our commercial warehouse and they did a fabulous job. Mike I was very attentive to every detail and to all of my concerns. Raul I was the one who truly made the integration smooth by going above and beyond. Them and Pablo P, Segio S and Nathan C, all really cared about taking good care of my place. They're expensive but they're worth it. 5 more stars!

Anthony Contreras is a great service technician! He cares! Thank you!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words, Marc! We're so grateful for the opportunity to work with you and we're glad to hear that our team provided excellent service. Your satisfaction is our top priority!
Angel R.
Alberto M. was great! He has a pleasant demeanor, answered all my questions, and I was comfortable letting him do his job in the house while I worked at my desk. He showed me everything he worked on afterward and I'm happy and impressed by his work ethic. Satisfied customer. :)

Oh, and I live in and take care of Renee R.'s house currently so this review is in place of her.
Richard T.
Oscar Ortiz was very polite, professional and was able to quickly identify and address the issue we reported. Thank you Oscar for your great service!
Joe M.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the 5-star rating, Joe!
Henry A.
Giovanna was excellent and the work got done very well. Thank you very much! :)
Response from the owner:Thank you, Henry! We're glad you had a great experience with Giovanna and that the work met your expectations. Your support means a lot to us!
Mark S
Had a new unit installed last year. Anthony C. and the team came back to check on it today. Took lots of photos of the unit on the roof, and did a good job explaining everything going on with my system. A+
Response from the owner:Thank you, Mark, for your kind words! We're glad to hear that Anthony C. and the team provided you with a thorough check and clear explanations about your system. Your satisfaction means a lot to us!
John D.
Response from the owner:Thank you, John, for your amazing 5-star rating; we truly appreciate your support!
Frank M.
Juan Molina and Daniel Real were very responsive, on-time, and did a good job fixing my probem.
Response from the owner:Thank you for recognizing Juan and Daniel's responsiveness and punctuality! We appreciate your feedback on their quality of work.
Nokuthula N.
Prompt report, thanks. Thorough, personable and professional.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Nokuthula, for your kind words; we appreciate your feedback and are glad to hear you had a positive experience!
Nathan K.
Rene did an amazing job!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Nathan! We're so glad to hear that Rene made a great impression—I'll be sure to pass on your kind words.
Kathy I
We used Brody Pennell to install new air ducts. Ashton was very professional and knowledgeable and explained everything thoroughly. The technicians Jose Rivera and Alessandro Ajtun did an excellent job. We are very pleased with the quality of their work.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your detailed and kind feedback! We are delighted to hear about your positive experience with Ashton K., the installers, and our team. We appreciate your recommendation and are glad to know that your furnace is working perfectly. Your satisfaction is our priority!
Jay K.
Giovanny is a fantastic HVAC Technician!
He knew exactly what was the problem and had my system up and running perfect.
I only want Giovanny at my next service call.
He will become your best Technician i know that .
Thank you.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Jay, for your kind words about Giovanny; we're glad to hear he provided excellent service and we'll be sure to have him assist you on your next call!
ray B.
Marco was very thorough and was great at explaining what needed to be done.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Ray, for your kind words about Marco's thoroughness and clear explanations; we appreciate your feedback!
Neal S.
What a professional service tech. I wish everything in life was this easy. Just excellent by every measure.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Neal! We're glad to hear you had such a positive experience with our service tech and found everything to be excellent.
Marla Pennington R.
Ivan was exceptional! Explained everything in detail and was very professional! Signed up for maintenance program! Highly recommend and satisfied with service!
Response from the owner:Thank you for recommending our maintenance program! We appreciate your kind words and are glad to hear that Daniel B. provided exceptional service.
Eric B.
Just completed installation of new Carrier Furnace & AC units. The installation team arrived on time, and brought in additional team members to ensure they finished the job on time. Outstanding professionalism was demonstrated by Mike I., Raul I, Diego B., Alberto H., Ben T., and Rafael A.

Very pleased with Brody Pennell based on this interaction.

UPDATE: Called Brody Pennell when another furnace needed replacing. The quality and professionalism they demonstrate is well worth it. Again, work was completed on time, and they left everything they touched in better shape than when they found it!
Response from the owner:We are so grateful for your detailed feedback and are delighted to hear about your positive experience with our installation team. Thank you for choosing Brody Pennell!
Jared S.
Leo H. & Justin U. help resolve a technical issue with my AC with great service!
Response from the owner:Thank you for the high praise! We're glad you enjoyed our service.
Natalie Y.
Kevin lopez provided an excelent service, explained everything well, he is knowledgeable and professional.
Thank you Kevin.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words, Natalie! We truly appreciate your support.
jmetro01
Response from the owner:Thank you, Jmetro01, for the fantastic 5-star rating! We appreciate your support and look forward to serving you again.
strider S.
Jason was fantastic! Friendly, thorough, and on time. I highly recommend Brody Pennell.
Eli Z.
Had my scheduled maintenance today. Kevin came out and was great - super professional, knowledgeable, etc. Had a sleeping baby at home and he did the whole thing super quietly as well! Thanks Kevin!
Response from the owner:We're so glad to hear that James H and Phil Y provided knowledgeable and helpful service, resulting in a significantly improved HVAC system. Thank you for recommending us!
Robert R.
Ivan was great. He came out and got our system up and running. Then he took the time to explain exactly what he had done and gave us options moving forward.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Robert! We're glad to hear Ivan was able to assist you effectively and provide clear options for the future. Your feedback means a lot to us!
John B.
Showed up on time and were professional.
Identified issues with the system that former HVAC contractors never mentioned
Response from the owner:Thank you, John, for your kind words about our team's punctuality and professionalism; we appreciate you recognizing their efforts in identifying those important system issues.
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By clicking “Send Message”, I am providing express written consent to receive autodialed and pre-recorded calls, texts, and SMS/MMS with marketing communications from Brody Pennell regarding home services at the phone number provided above, even if the number is on a corporate, state, or national Do Not Call list. Consent is not a condition to purchase services or products.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.