R-22 (chlorodifluoromethane, also known as Freon) was the dominant refrigerant in commercial air conditioning and refrigeration systems for decades. Its production has been phased out under the Montreal Protocol due to ozone-depleting properties.
Current Status
In Canada, the manufacture and import of R-22 has been banned. Only recovered and reclaimed refrigerant is available for servicing existing equipment. This limited supply is increasingly expensive and unreliable.
Your Options
- Continue running R-22 equipment: feasible short-term, but increasingly costly and risky as refrigerant becomes unavailable
- Retrofit to a drop-in replacement: some systems can use R-407C or R-422D with minor modifications
- Replace the equipment: the most reliable long-term solution, especially for older systems
Making the Decision
A system that is more than 15 years old, requires frequent refrigerant top-ups, or has had major component failures is likely a candidate for replacement. Have your contractor perform a cost-benefit analysis comparing continued operation against replacement.