What the EPA Says
- Since January 1, 2020, production and import of virgin HCFC-22 (R-22) is banned in the United States, with limited exceptions such as export.
- Owners are not required to replace working equipment, and existing R-22 systems can keep being serviced with recovered, reclaimed or previously produced R-22.
- The EPA expects the supply of R-22 to shrink and prices to rise over time.
- There is no drop-in substitute. Converting a system requires an EPA-approved refrigerant and usually changes to system components.
- The EPA warns that a product sold as "R-22a" is a hydrocarbon blend that is not an acceptable replacement in residential systems.
- Intentionally venting refrigerant during service is illegal, and technicians need EPA Section 608 certification.
Why It Matters for a Home Warranty
A repair that needs a refrigerant recharge on an R-22 system costs more as supply tightens. Whether a plan pays for refrigerant, and how it treats a system that would need to be converted or replaced, depends on the contract. Read the HVAC and refrigerant language before you buy, and ask the company in writing how it handles R-22 systems. Our refrigerant coverage guide compares what companies say.
What to Do If Your System Uses R-22
- Ask a licensed technician which refrigerant your system uses; it is on the nameplate.
- Keep the system's maintenance records, which matter if a claim is questioned. See the maintenance exclusion guide.
- Weigh the cost of continued repairs against replacement, using the HVAC replacement cost guide.