The Freon®/R22 Phaseout

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

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.

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.