Replacing our 18 year old A/C unit. Advice?

[Gina]

We had a problem with ours last week and the ac company said R-22 will be available until 2030, so we could just fix ours and not replace it.

It's 2020... but it has already gone up in price since they started the phase-out. It'll still be around for the next 10 years, just more expensive.

"What if I own an air conditioner that needs R-22 added after 2010?

You may continue to have your equipment containing R-22 serviced after 2010, although only a limited amount of new R-22 will be manufactured (to meet the servicing needs of equipment manufactured before January 1, 2010). After 2020, production of R-22 will be prohibited and only recovered, recycled, or reclaimed supplies of R-22 will be available for servicing existing equipment. So, in the future, R-22 supplies will be more limited and costs may rise."

Source: epa.gov

 

[disneylove69]

It's 2020... but it has already gone up in price since they started the phase-out. It'll still be around for the next 10 years, just more expensive.

"What if I own an air conditioner that needs R-22 added after 2010?

You may continue to have your equipment containing R-22 serviced after 2010, although only a limited amount of new R-22 will be manufactured (to meet the servicing needs of equipment manufactured before January 1, 2010). After 2020, production of R-22 will be prohibited and only recovered, recycled, or reclaimed supplies of R-22 will be available for servicing existing equipment. So, in the future, R-22 supplies will be more limited and costs may rise."

Source: epa.gov

Just like cars when they started to phase out the old freon in California. It went from a few buck a lb. to over $80lb before I sold my car. My a/c had to be filled last yr due to a leak and it cost $300 to fill.