Jacksonville, United States – October 30, 2019 / Agency Elevation /
The premier HVAC provider in Northeast Florida, Air McCall, is reminding business and homeowners with aging HVAC systems that it’s worth strongly considering an upgrade before the end of 2019. R-22, which is a refrigerant, is being phased out as of January 1st, 2020.
R-22 has been the standard for Air Conditioning systems. However, the EPA mandated years ago that as of 2020, R-22 can no longer be produced or imported. Essentially, this means that the only way R-22 can be used to service or repair an air conditioning system is to use stockpiled or recycled product.
Why is this happening? R-22 is a HCFC (Hydrochlorofluorocarbon). HCFCs emit chemicals that deplete the earth’s ozone layer. The ozone layer shields our planet from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. The EPA has been in the process of phasing out HCFCs for years, and now the R-22 phase-out is right around the corner. To learn more regarding this phase-out, visit: https://www.epa.gov/ods-phaseout
How does this affect consumers? After January 1st, 2020, any consumer needing R-22 refrigerant added to their Air Conditioning unit, will have to pay a higher price, as the demand will be higher than the supply. It’s simple economics. Many AC companies stopped offering R-22 to its customers years ago. Air McCall only recently stopped offering it because residential systems containing R-22 are 12 years or older. It no longer makes any sense to invest the high price of R-22 into old, inefficient equipment that have exceeded their life expectancy.
It is no longer cost effective to continue to have service or repairs performed on an aged system. Most repairs involve recharging the refrigerant inside of an AC system, and if R-22 is part of it, the costs have risen beyond reason and will continue to do so. At some point, the stockpile of this HCFC will be diminished and these older units cannot function without it.
What is the next step for consumers affected by the phase-out? The best thing to do is to start planning now to replace an older, less efficient HVAC unit that relies on R-22 to function, because it will become more and more impractical to be serviced or repaired. Financially, it’s a wise decision to invest in a more efficient AC system, with a 10-year warranty, sooner than later. There is no logic in delaying the inevitable and waiting for an AC failure to pressure you into a desperate rush towards an expensive decision. A proactive homeowner will have more time to educate themselves about who and what they are going to invest in since it is the most expensive appliance within most homes.
There are so many viable alternatives available to consumers that make the transition to a newer HVAC unit less painless. The leading manufacturers in the HVAC industry offer 10-year warranties on their equipment. However, keep in mind that the installation needs to be performed by a licensed contractor and factory-certified technicians, for the warranties to be honored.
There are financing companies available to help ease the up-front costs of replacing an aged HVAC unit. A more efficient AC system can provide savings on a homeowner’s monthly electric bill that are greater than the monthly cost of financing. That is what is commonly called, “A No-Brainer”.
What can consumers do to determine if their HVAC system relies on R-22? This is the easy part. It is listed on the manufacturer’s information sticker located on the equipment where the model and serial number are printed. For existing customers, your HVAC contractor may have already discussed it with you due to the upcoming phase-out of R-22.
For new homeowners or customers in the Jacksonville area that don’t have a “go-to” HVAC company that they rely on, it’s as simple as scheduling a call to look at what HVAC equipment they have and go over their options if their system is R-22 reliant.
Air McCall, based out of Jacksonville, FL is available and happy to spend time with consumers to go over their options regarding the phase-out of R-22 or any other HVAC issues that need to be discussed for performance and longevity of existing and more modern systems. Air McCall provides free estimates to replace AC systems and will take the required time to help any consumer.
A locally owned and family-operated HVAC company, Air McCall is committed to expert craftsmanship, fair pricing, and integrity. The team of technicians are expertly trained craftsmen, fully insured, factory-certified, and background checked. They provide emergency services, new installations, maintenance, and repairs. Air McCall serves the communities of Jacksonville, Orange Park, St. Johns, Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Ponte Vedra, Neptune Beach, and North St. Augustine.
Contact Information:
Air McCall
6662 Columbia Park Dr. S Suite 1
Jacksonville, FL 32258
United States
Jonathan Bolden
https://www.airmccall.com/