R22 Refrigerant Is Banned in NJ — Here's Exactly What to Do Next

R22 refrigerant — also called Freon — was permanently banned in the United States on January 1, 2020. If your air conditioning system was installed before 2010, there is a good chance it uses R22. Here is what that means for you and what NJ homeowners can do about it.

R22 is a hydrochlorofluorocarbon refrigerant that was widely used in residential AC systems from the 1970s through the 2000s. It was phased out under the Montreal Protocol because of its damaging effect on the ozone layer. The EPA banned production and import of R22 on January 1, 2020. Any remaining R22 is reclaimed from old systems and is extremely expensive — often $100 to $200 per pound.

What This Means for Your AC System

If your AC uses R22 and it develops a refrigerant leak, you have two options — pay extremely high prices for reclaimed R22 to recharge it, or replace the entire system. Most HVAC technicians will tell you that recharging an R22 system is throwing money away. A single recharge can cost $500 to $2,000, and it does not fix the underlying leak. You will need to recharge again.

The Better Option — Replace and Get Up to $16K in NJ Rebates

NJ homeowners who replace their R22 system with a qualifying heat pump qualify for PSE&G rebates of up to $16,000, plus up to $2,000 from Mechanical Enterprise, for a combined total of up to $16,000. The new system will be dramatically more efficient — heat pumps use 50-60% less energy than old AC systems and also provide heating, so you can eliminate your oil or gas furnace too.

How Mechanical Enterprise Handles It

We assess your home for free and identify every rebate you qualify for. We handle every PSE&G application and all paperwork at no cost to you. Most of our R22 replacement customers in NJ receive between $12,000 and $16,000 in combined rebates. Call (862) 423-9396 or book online.