As you should be well-aware, 2015 has seen the introduction of legislation that outlaws the servicing, maintenance and purchasing of air conditioning systems that use the R22 refrigerant. Having advised many businesses and contractors regarding their next steps in response to the ban, we at Rapid Climate found it useful to create a simple visual guide to everything you need to know about R22.
2015 has seen the beginning of legislation that criminalises the purchasing, servicing and maintenance of air conditioning systems that use the R22 refrigerant. In this article we outline what it may mean to you and the steps you may need to take.
What Happened?
This year the Montreal Protocol banned the supply of R22 refrigerant in order to prevent damage further effect on the ozone layer and environment that the use of the gas caused. Therefore if you currently use systems that require the use of R22 gas, you must stop using them. This also means that your system cannot be repaired or maintained.
Your Options
Option 1: Alternative Refrigerant
- Manufacturer’s warranty doesn’t cover this
- There is a higher risk of system failure
- The operating costs will be higher
- This can only be a short term solution
Option 2: Replace the indoor/outdoor units
- There are a variety of R410a replacement systems available to you
- The operating costs are lower
- It will reduce disruption for building tenants
- It’s more cost effective than installing new ones
Option 3: Replace the entire system
- This ensures you have the most recent technology
- Has the lowest of operating costs
- Has the lowest CO2 emission rate
- There are 3-5 year warranty options
Please go to the rapid climate bog for further detailed information.