Production and import of R-22 in the United States ended on 1 January 2020. The gas did not become illegal to use — systems running on R-22 can stay in service — but every pound now available comes from recovered, recycled or reclaimed stock. That is why pricing behaves the way it does, and why planning matters.
Your three options on an R-22 system
Keep it on R-22. If the system is sound and the leak rate is low, continuing on reclaimed R-22 is often the cheapest route in the short term. The risk is exposure to a supply that only shrinks.
Retrofit to a service blend. Several HFC blends were developed to run in existing R-22 equipment with limited modification. R-407C is the long-standing option; R-422D (MO29), R-427A and R-438A (MO99) are widely used retrofit blends. R-417A and R-421A are also common in the field.
Replace the equipment. On an old, inefficient or leak-prone system, new equipment on R-410A or a low-GWP A2L will usually beat repeated retrofit costs.
What to check before you retrofit
- Oil compatibility. R-22 systems typically run mineral oil. Most HFC blends need POE, though some retrofit blends are formulated to work with the residual mineral oil already in the system. Confirm the manufacturer position for the specific blend rather than assuming.
- Glide. Zeotropic blends have temperature glide, which changes how you read superheat and subcooling and means charging as a liquid from the cylinder.
- Capacity and pressure. Expect a capacity shift after retrofit. Check that the compressor, metering device and pressure controls suit the new gas.
- Documentation. Label the system with the new refrigerant and oil. The next technician will need to know.
A note on buying reclaimed R-22
Because supply is recovered rather than manufactured, quality varies across the market. Ask for purity documentation. Refrigerant sold to AHRI 700 purity standards with a batch number is traceable; drums without paperwork are not worth the saving.
We list R-22 in 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 and 30 lb cylinders and in quarter, half and full pallets, alongside the common retrofit blends. If you are weighing retrofit against replacement across a site, send us the equipment list and we will quote both routes.
