We interrupt your enjoyment of this gorgeous Phoenix spring weather to bring you a VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!
You may be aware that R22 or Freon© refrigerant has been phased out completely due to its negative impact on the environment. If not…surprise! No more Freon! Hooray for the ozone layer and sorry ‘bout your luck, vintage AC units!
What Does That Mean To You?
Your R22 equipment can technically still be repaired but dwindling supplies of surplus Freon© will quickly go from obscenely priced to non-existent. When your air conditioner can’t be recharged with refrigerant anymore (which is often necessary after a repair) it’ll basically be a giant paperweight!
Our best Realtor advice is: if your AC is 15 years or older or if you’ve had recurring problems with it, for the love of all that’s cool and comfortable, have it checked and consider replacement! HVAC contractors will likely be booked for weeks with the demand, so BEAT THE HEAT!
We know HVAC equipment isn’t exactly a super-fun purchase like a fancy car or those faaabulous strappy heels you saw at Neiman Marcus. You won’t invite the Joneses over to envy your whisper quiet new condenser or post Facebook selfies of your luxurious new evaporator coil. Homeowners aren’t typically proactive where it comes to purchasing air conditioners and furnaces, we replace them when they spontaneously combust.
Here’s The Bottom Line…
It’s not Murphy’s Law, but simply laws of physics that compel hundreds of aging AC units to race toward the cliff like a pack of lemmings and jump off together on the hottest possible day of summer. The added stress of higher heat loads and heavy use pushes them to their limits and eventually…KABOOM!
Since Phoenix summer temps can rival tap dancing on the surface of the sun, we’re pretty sure you’ll want AC NOW when that happens. NOW may not be an option if your favorite contractor is overwhelmed. This is your opportunity to Carpe Coolium (that’s Latin for “seize the air conditioner”)! Unless you think you’d enjoy the convenience of being able to bake a pan of muffins on your coffee table.
Sound Advice Or Scare Tactic?
This is just an FYI. If you have newer R22 equipment and it’s still going strong, there’s no need to panic. There’s a long transition timeline between when the new Puron© equipment was available and then ultimately mandatory. If an AC is working properly it doesn’t “burn” refrigerant like a car uses gas. It cycles through the vacuum sealed system and keeps on cooling, so it shouldn’t need to be “topped off”. A small percentage of systems may possibly be converted to a refrigerant blend, so ask your HVAC tech for your options. When it finally does fail, though, the lack of refrigerant will render it obsolete so take good care of it! Be vigilant about changing filters, clearing drain lines and annual maintenance to maximize the life.
EPA Info On R22 Refrigerant Phaseout
We now return you to your regularly scheduled, beautifully breezy open windows day!
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