The United States Environmental Protection Agency has reduced the 2012 production allowance by 45% versus the volume of R22 that was produced and/or imported in 2011.This substantial reduction has caused immediate and dramatic price increases. We have also been notified by the suppliers that they are reserving their right to increase prices on R22 without notice. As of February we have seen a 100% increase, compared to last year.
Wm. Henderson wants you to be informed about the current refrigerant standards. For those who are not aware, R22 production will be slowly phased out, and by 2020 R22 production will cease. A 2020 phase out date may seem far off, but with R22 prices skyrocketing, why would you buy an R22 unit? It’s still possible to purchase dry R22 units in 13 S.E.E.R, but why would you? You would be investing in something that will only exist for 8 more years. Furthermore, it already is prohibitively expensive to recharge R22 units. It’s like buying a car that runs on leaded gasoline: It makes no sense!
If you are looking at replacing your existing cooling system, you should be installing an R410A Puron system. These systems have been around since 1996 and are tried, tested and true. They utilize thicker-walled tubing, new, quiet compressors, and a higher grade of oil. With R410A being an ozone-friendly refrigerant, we can fairly safely assume that these systems will be around for a long time. Since the inception of R410A, unit efficiency has increased substantially. Pre-R410A 14 S.E.E.R was a very high-efficiency unit, now 13 S.E.E.R is the government minimum requirement. It is now possible to have units up to 21 S.E.E.R installed in your home or business. But, what does 21 S.E.E.R. mean, exactly? Basically, if you are running a 10 S.E.E.R unit (a fairly standard efficiency until recently), and it costs you $100 per month to cool your home, a 21 S.E.E.R. unit running the unit the same amount of time would cost you only $49. This means HUGE SAVINGS on the cooling your home when you install high-efficiency units!
For this reason, if you are in need of a substantial repair on an older unit, you should really consider replacement costs. Many times, we see a real advantage, with a great return on investment, to replace your current system with a high-efficiency R410A Puron system. If you are considering replacing your system, ask Wm. Henderson for a free estimate. We can show you all your options and find the best system for your needs. After all, your needs are what are important to us. Call Wm. Henderson today for more information.