What is happening with refrigerants in air conditioning systems?
The current refrigerant used in air conditioning systems is called R-22. Due to suspected ozone depletion, EPA regulators call for the eventual phase out of this refrigerant. Equipment that uses R-22 must stop being produced by the year 2010. All production of R-22 will stop being produced by the year 2020. There will be sufficient supplies of R-22 to service the equipment for its life span. Sufficient quantities of R-22 will continue until 2020. After 2020, recycled refrigerants will be available, for many years, which will safely fulfill all service needs for products that use R-22. The apparent refrigerant of choice to replace R-22 is known as R410A. R410A & Puron are both the same refrigerant currently being manufactured by the same company- Allied Signal. Over the next several years you will see more prevalence of R410A.