Why has the price of R-22 doubled this year?

R-22 is the original refrigerant known as freon.  The EPA has determined it is a greenhouse gas and mandated the elimination over time of its use.  In January of 2012 the EPA mandated a 45% reduction in the price of r-22.  Thus the price of it per pound to you, the customer doubled. 

Now the origin of this whole greenhouse gas thing has to do with global warming etc at least on the official level.  The rumor mill has it more to deal with the patent loss by Du Pont of r-22 and the associated profits in making the gas.  R-410a is the replacement refrigerant but, of course, it is not a drop in replacement.  You need a new unit.   You can understand contractors, the federal government and Du Pont were giddy when they figured this out. 

There really is no drop in replacement to r-22.  Although I work on systems that are 25 years old and more the cost of doing a compressor replacement or adding gas to a leak in a unit now makes replacement more appealing.  Of course for contractors replacement means more profits.  They will be plugging the 'new unit' pitch all summer to everyone that will listen.

Bottom line you cant fight the man and when you have the power of government and big business on one side look out!!

You do have options.  You do not just have to buy a new unit.  Call or email me to get more info and guidance on what you can do to protect yourself.

For more free help and info from Phoenix's own A/C help site go to http://www.thermal-medics.com/.