• R-22 is commonly used in residential air conditioning units.Pompe ?? chaleur image by mattmatt73 from Fotolia.com
  
  For over four decades, R-22 has been the most popular type of refrigerant for residential air conditioning and heat pump systems in the United States, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Since the United States signed the Montreal Protocol in 1987, laws such as the Clean Air Act have been set in place to guide the EPA in regulating the use of R-22. R-22 is a greenhouse gas, meaning if released into the atmosphere it will cause the ozone layer to deplete.
  
  

New Equipment

• As of January 1, 2010, manufacturers of heating and air conditioning units cannot produce new equipment containing R-22 refrigerant. The Environmental Protection Agency created this rule to maintain United States' compliance with the Montreal Protocol--an international agreement on phasing out ozone-depleting CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons).
  
  

Servicing

• Come January 1, 2020 chemical companies will not be allowed to produce R-22. Currently, R-22 is produced for existing air conditioners and heat pumps. To service older systems, companies will only be able to use recycled or recovered R-22 gathered from old air conditioners and heat pumps.
  
  

Handling

• In accordance with the Clean Air Act, R-22 cannot be released into the air. R-22 that is extracted from air conditioning or heat pump systems must be recycled, recovered for use in another system or destroyed. The Environmental Protection Agency offers certification for heating and cooling technicians on the proper handling of R-22.
  
  

Leaks

• The Environmental Protection Agency has regulations in place concerning large leaks of R-22. A leaking source of R-22 must be repaired within 30 days. For leaks deemed excessive by the EPA, a fine of up to $32,500 a day per leak source can be imposed on the owner of a defective system.