4 ms·
R22 was banned from new HVAC units in 2010, and was only banned from import in 2020. R410a isnt even banned from new HVAC until 2025, and they've stated they'l
by Kirby64 3y ago
R22 was banned from new HVAC units in 2010, and was only banned from import in 2020.
R410a isnt even banned from new HVAC until 2025, and they've stated they'll permit importing until 2037 for maintenance purposes.
Seems pretty straightforward that you can easily/cheaply service the unit for at least 10 years, then after that you're going to need to potentially pay a lot more.... which seems entirely reasonable, given that the service that requires lots of additional refrigerant is exactly the problem the EPA is trying to solve: refrigerants leaking into the atmosphere.
Honestly, I'd be much more worried about being able to find parts for the complicated heat pump systems (electronics, mostly) 10+ years down the road than I would about being able to find refrigerant.
- wkat4242 3y agoYou can't keep getting consumers to buy new equipment though. It should be lifetime approved. The same way old cars don't have to meet new environmental standards.
- Kirby64 3y agoIt is, though. You're free to continue using an HVAC system with R22 today. You can even refill it with R22, albeit at the expensive price of current R22. This actually just like a car. At some point maintenance cost exceeds the value of the car and it is no longer feasible to continue keeping it. So you scrap it, or sell it to someone else. If you're frequently refilling an old HVAC (R22 or otherwise) it means that it has a leak. And that's precisely the thing that the EPA wants people to not do, since it's damaging to the environment. HVAC units should never leak, ever, if they are working properly.
- rad_gruchalski 3y agoLifetime approved heat pump? They have a lifetime of 15 to 20 years.