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What is R-22, and does my AC use it?

R-22 (also called HCFC-22) is the refrigerant many older central air conditioners and heat pumps were built with. It hasn’t been made or imported in the U.S. since 2020, but you can keep using and servicing an R-22 system. Here’s what the EPA says, and how to check what your system uses.

The key dates

  • January 1, 2010: new air conditioners and pre-charged components could no longer be manufactured with R-22.
  • January 1, 2020: “U.S. production and import of HCFC-22 ended.” Only recycled, reclaimed or previously produced R-22 can be used for servicing.
  • January 1, 2025: EPA’s Technology Transitions rule set a global warming potential (GWP) limit of 700 for refrigerant in new residential AC and heat-pump systems. R-410A’s GWP is 2,090. Systems whose specified components were all made or imported before 2025 have no installation deadline.

Can I keep using an R-22 system?

Yes. The EPA says: “EPA does not require homeowners to replace their existing equipment.” You can keep having an R-22 system serviced, including replacing failed components.

The EPA “expects that reclaimed and previously-produced HCFC-22 will be available well after 2020 to service and maintain equipment, but the price and availability may change.” Refrigerant is only sold to certified technicians or the companies that employ them, so recharging is a job for a technician with EPA Section 608 certification.

If the system is leaking, the EPA suggests asking the technician to locate and repair the leak instead of “topping it off”.

Retrofits, “drop-ins” and R-22a

The EPA says “there are no ‘drop in’ replacements for HCFC-22. Alternative refrigerants will not work well without making changes to system components.” Converting a system to another refrigerant (a retrofit) is allowed only with an alternative EPA lists as acceptable for that use.

R-410A isn’t one of them. The EPA says you can’t replace a broken R-22 outdoor unit with an R-410A unit, because the R-22 indoor coil “would not be compatible with R-410A due to the difference in pressures.” The whole system would need to be replaced.

Avoid anything sold as “R-22a”. The EPA warns it “has been falsely marketed as R-22 or an R-22 replacement”; it’s a flammable hydrocarbon blend that is “not an acceptable alternative for your residential AC system.”

Does my AC use R-22?

Check the nameplate. The EPA says the refrigerant “is typically listed on the unit’s nameplate. For central air conditioners, the nameplate is usually on the outdoor condenser.” If there isn’t one, check the owner’s manual or ask whoever sold or services the system.

The manufacture date is a clue, not proof. Carrier says “systems from 2010 or before typically use R-22.” But a date after 2010 doesn’t rule R-22 out: market data summarized in a 2026 EPA rule showed “significant sales of R-22 outdoor condensing units until 2016”, shipped without refrigerant and charged on site. The nameplate is what counts.

Repair or replace?

There’s no deadline. The EPA’s 2009 guidance said the long phaseout lets you replace R-22 equipment “when you normally would, for instance if it becomes old, inefficient, or ineffective. Realizing that supplies of R-22 will become more limited and that the price may increase should also be factors.”

The EPA also notes that equipment “generally runs most efficiently on the type of refrigerant it was designed for,” and that regular leak checks and maintenance help “reduce the need to purchase additional HCFC-22.”

Check when your AC was made

Look for “Serial No.” or “S/N” on the label. Spaces and dashes are fine.

Free, no account needed Photo scanning coming soon

Questions

Is R-22 banned?
New systems couldn’t be made with R-22 from 2010, and U.S. production and import ended on January 1, 2020. Using and servicing an existing R-22 system is still allowed; the EPA doesn’t require homeowners to replace it.
Can I still get my R-22 air conditioner recharged?
Yes, with recycled, reclaimed or previously produced R-22, by a technician with EPA Section 608 certification. The EPA expects supply to last well after 2020, but price and availability may change. If it’s leaking, ask for the leak to be repaired instead of topping it off.
Can I put R-410A in my R-22 system?
No. The EPA says there are no drop-in replacements for R-22, and R-410A isn’t listed as an acceptable retrofit for R-22 systems.
If my AC was made after 2010, is it R-22-free?
Not necessarily. R-22 outdoor units shipped without refrigerant were still sold for years after 2010. The refrigerant listed on the nameplate is what counts.

Sources

Last updated 2026-09-29.