R22 HCFC Refrigerant Gas

f your home’s air conditioning unit is more than 10 years old, there’s a good chance it uses R22, commonly known as “Freon.” R22 is an A/C refrigerant — a substance used for cooling in air conditioners— that was once widely used in air conditioning units in homes and businesses alike. But, after years of using R22 in air conditioning units of all sizes, it was discovered that R22 is a dangerous chemical that was significantly contributing to the thinning in the ozone layer.

Why is this a big deal?

The ozone layer exists to shield the surface of the Earth from dangerous ultraviolet rays that can lead to skin cancer, disrupted marine activity and reduced agricultural productivity. In other words, it impacts just about everyone and everything on Earth in one way or another.

In 1987, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) joined with several other global agencies to create the Montreal Protocol, an agreement that established a timeline for phasing out the use of these highly dangerous synthetic chemicals.

So what does all of this mean for homeowners? Keep reading to find out!