PHASE-OUT SCHEDULE FOR HCFCS, INCLUDING R-22
Under the terms of the Montreal Protocol, the United States agreed to meet certain obligations by specific dates. That will affect the residential heat pump and air-conditioning industry.
January 1, 2004 In accordance with the terms of the Protocol, the amount of all the HCFCs that can be produced nationwide must be reduced by 35 percent by 2004. In order to achieve this goal, the United States has ceased production of HCFC-141 b, the most ozone damaging of this class of chemicals, on January 1, 2003. this production ban should greatly reduce nationwide me of HCFCs as a group and make it likely that the 2004 deadline will have a minimal effect on R-22 supplies.
January 1, 2010 After 2010, chemical manufacturers may still produce R-22. But this is to service existing equipment and not for use in new equipment. As a result, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system manufacturers will only be able to use preexisting supplies of R-22 in the production of new air conditioners and heat pumps. These existing supplies will include R-22 recovered from existing equipment and recycled by licensed reclaimers.
January 1, 2020 Use of existing refrigerant, including refrigerant that has been recovered and re- cycled, will be allowed beyond 2020 to service existing systems. However, chemical manufacturers will no longer be able to produce R-22 to service existing air conditioners and heat pumps.
What does the R-22 phase out mean for consumers? The following paragraphs are an attempt to answer this question.