Phase-Out
Because of environmental concerns, the United States and over 125 other countries have signed the Montreal Protocol, the international agreement to protect the stratospheric ozone layer. As a result, the EPA, through the Clean Air Act, issued regulations that restrict the future production of HCFC (hydrochlorofluorocarbon) refrigerants used in most air conditioners and heat pumps. Though this will impact how the air conditioning industry works, our suppliers are among the leaders in addressing this challenge.
Products that use HCFC refrigerants (primarily R22), and have safely used them for decades, will be phased out by the year 2010. All production of the refrigerant itself will stop by 2020.
This will not affect current air conditioning or heat pump equipment. The air conditioning industry has worked closely with the EPA to coordinate the eventual phase-out so you can be confident that today’s products will be capable of supplying your home heating and cooling needs for the full life-span of the air conditioner or heat pump. Sufficient quantity of R-22 refrigerant will continue to be produced for any service needs that may arise until 2020. After 2020, recycled refrigerants will be available for many years, to safely fulfill all service needs for products that use R-22.
Our suppliers are already building test units using the most promising refrigerant alternatives, and are committed to maintaining the same high-quality products and solid reliability for which they have been known. Though the more costly refrigerant alternatives will make these units initially more expensive, over time production costs will drop. When those are made available in the years ahead, you can be sure they’ll meet our historical standards of excellence.