What Is R-22?

R-22 is a common household refrigerant used in systems manufactured until 2010.
 

​R-22, also known as HCFC-22,

is a hydrochlorofluorocarbon that was banned from production​ or import into the United States on January 1, 2020, under the Montreal Protocol due to its environmental impact.

Is It Illegal?

Though this substance is illegal to manufacture or import, this does not mean that it is illegal to distribute within the U.S. or use the substance to service an existing R-22 system.

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Stockpiled or reclaimed R-22 is legal and can still be used to service existing equipment.

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Are There Substitutes?

It is possible to use a substitute refrigerant in an R-22 system; however, this may require the implementation of new, compatible system components and materials. This is a process called retrofitting.

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A foreign refrigerant should never "top off" or be "dropped in" an R-22 system that is currently housing R-22 refrigerant.