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R22 Freon shortage

Posted on 7/23/25 at 7:32 pm
Posted by PaBon
UPT 17th W/D
Member since Sep 2014
2230 posts
Posted on 7/23/25 at 7:32 pm
Not sure if this has been discussed yet but apparently this is being done away with in the not so distant future? Just had an old unit serviced that has a small leak and the tech quickly explained this to me. Government regulations? Might have to bite the bullet on a new system.
Posted by LEASTBAY
Member since Aug 2007
16316 posts
Posted on 7/23/25 at 7:48 pm to
It was discontinued over 5 years ago. I'm pretty sure r134 is now in the process of being phased out.
This post was edited on 7/23/25 at 7:50 pm
Posted by PaBon
UPT 17th W/D
Member since Sep 2014
2230 posts
Posted on 7/23/25 at 8:09 pm to
That must’ve been the replacement for r22 I take it. Thanks. Damn builder didn’t make an official pull stair access to attic, just a small access panel in closet. Looks like I’ll be adding a stair access to relplace that unit eventually.
Posted by White Bear
AT WORK
Member since Jul 2014
17213 posts
Posted on 7/23/25 at 8:34 pm to
Buy your own r22
Posted by LEASTBAY
Member since Aug 2007
16316 posts
Posted on 7/23/25 at 9:38 pm to
Right but if it's more than a small leak you will have lost a lot of money.
Posted by PaBon
UPT 17th W/D
Member since Sep 2014
2230 posts
Posted on 7/23/25 at 10:34 pm to
Understood. I found a great YouTube channel, the diy hvac guy, or something, that breaks it all down from how & where to order online to hoe to recharge it and what to look for when servicing.

Thanks guys.
Posted by wartiger2004
9X National Champions WDE RIP CK
Member since Aug 2011
19995 posts
Posted on 7/23/25 at 11:48 pm to
quote:

That must’ve been the replacement for r22 I take it. Thanks. Damn builder didn’t make an official pull stair access to attic, just a small access panel in closet. Looks like I’ll be adding a stair access to relplace that unit eventually.


134A was the replacement for R12.
410A was the replacement for 22, and now thanks to the Biden administration that has been phased out to 454 which is flammable and requires a lot of extra components. Long story short, prepare thy anus.
Posted by Goldensammy
Cypress, TX
Member since Jun 2016
951 posts
Posted on 7/24/25 at 7:21 am to
quote:

great YouTube channel


Link?
Posted by PaBon
UPT 17th W/D
Member since Sep 2014
2230 posts
Posted on 7/24/25 at 9:17 am to
LINK

Learned a lot from this.
Posted by BRBro
Member since May 2025
39 posts
Posted on 7/24/25 at 9:20 am to
R438A is the replacement
Posted by baldona
Florida
Member since Feb 2016
23316 posts
Posted on 7/24/25 at 10:28 am to
quote:

R438A is the replacement


I'm not in the know in regards to current and future technology here, but I'm somewhat surprised that the Trump administration isn't getting involved in this at all.

I don't want to go full politics, but it seems like 410A was phased out simply due to politics.

OP, if you have a leak, as said you need to move asap. R22 units are now fairly old, they stopped making the units around 2010 I believe?
Posted by idlewatcher
Planet Arium
Member since Jan 2012
92368 posts
Posted on 7/24/25 at 10:41 am to
quote:

PaBon


Great find.
Posted by Spankum
Miss-sippi
Member since Jan 2007
60439 posts
Posted on 7/24/25 at 4:01 pm to
Went through this several years ago with my unit. Had Freon added and it was low again in two weeks. Decided not to spend a couple of thousand bucks repairing an outdated unit and replaced it.

You are gonna bite the bullet now or in the next year or so.
Posted by Turnblad85
Member since Sep 2022
4430 posts
Posted on 7/24/25 at 4:39 pm to
quote:

I'm somewhat surprised that the Trump administration isn't getting involved in this at all.



I guess he still could but he signed the phasedown of 410a into law back in 2020.

Industry told lawmakers it was going to create jobs and help keep the US up to date with advancing technology.
This post was edited on 7/24/25 at 11:11 pm
Posted by Sus-Scrofa
Member since Feb 2013
10426 posts
Posted on 7/24/25 at 7:09 pm to
I’ve been trying to keep an air conditioner alive for the last four years or so.

Last several summers I’ve paid the service fee to the air conditioner people and some reclaimed R22 that can’t be resold found its way to my dinosaur of an air conditioner.

Apparently those days are done now too.
Posted by PaBon
UPT 17th W/D
Member since Sep 2014
2230 posts
Posted on 7/24/25 at 8:09 pm to
quote:

R438A is the replacement


So you’re saying this is a drop in replacement for r22? A quick research says that r22 uses mineral oil where r438a uses another oil, but could work with modifications beyond a homeowners capability, lol. Do tell.
Posted by Napoleon
Kenna
Member since Dec 2007
73155 posts
Posted on 7/25/25 at 9:53 am to
R134a is the replacement for r12. Neither are used in AC units usually. Both were or are used in fridges and car ac. R12 is ever is known as Freon. 134a is cheap but it is showing being replaced.
R22 is totally seperate r438 or r407 can be used instead of r22 in r22 systems.
Posted by BigBinBR
Baton Rouge
Member since Mar 2023
9218 posts
Posted on 7/25/25 at 10:21 am to
quote:

Not sure if this has been discussed yet but apparently this is being done away with in the not so distant future? Just had an old unit serviced that has a small leak and the tech quickly explained this to me. Government regulations? Might have to bite the bullet on a new system.


Production and import of R22 was banned in 2020. You can still find it with little to no problem with reclaimed/recycled R22. It's getting more and more expensive every year though.



Posted by Gauxt
Prairieville
Member since Oct 2013
377 posts
Posted on 7/25/25 at 12:53 pm to
I might have a jug of R22 sitting in my shop
Posted by MardiGrasCajun
Dirty Coast, MS
Member since Sep 2005
5946 posts
Posted on 7/26/25 at 10:25 pm to
quote:

410A was the replacement for 22, and now thanks to the Biden administration that has been phased out


Phased down not out. It’s a step down phase down till 2036. At that point, R410a will have reached 15% of the baseline allocation of 2020. Right now we’re in the 60% allocation step. R410a, while it will be expensive, will continue to be available.
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