My AC has a small leak. What options do I have for R22? (heat, leaks)

[M3Guy]

Hey, my water sourced heat pump has a tiny freon leak. I wanted to just replace the coil, then found out R22 refrigerant will be illegal 1/1/2020. I need to know, will there be a black market for this R22? If not, what are my options besides replacement of the whole unit? Is there another compatible refrigerant? I REALLY don't want to fork over $7k for a new unit. Anyone got any R22 stashed away?

[turkeydance]

had some.
sold it, since it is more valuable per ounce than printer ink cartridges.
essentially, our recommendation is three-fold:
1. today, make an appointment to recharge your system.
2. start saving money toward a new unit.
3. if things go like i think they might, "negative" interest rates are coming. meaning: they PAY you to take out a loan. check it out.

[M3Guy]

Originally Posted by turkeydance

had some.
sold it, since it is more valuable per ounce than printer ink cartridges.
essentially, our recommendation is three-fold:
1. today, make an appointment to recharge your system.
2. start saving money toward a new unit.
3. if things go like i think they might, "negative" interest rates are coming. meaning: they PAY you to take out a loan. check it out.

The first, and best response ever!

I was thinking about recharging, but i didn't want to "disrupt" the system. I guess I will have to to take
a gamble. It is working "decent" right now, but I am worried about the future.

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by M3Guy

Hey, my water sourced heat pump has a tiny freon leak.

Tiny is as good as bigger.

I wanted to just replace the coil...

No longer a practical approach

[NC211]

I have two r22 units. One from 2008 (American Standard) and one from 1999 (York - we call “Mater”) I too have small leaks in both evap coils, and notice the American Standard unit is slowing down a bit in cooling the main level that it serves. But won’t replace the coils because it’s be a waste of money at this point considering their ages.

Craig’s List has tons of R22. And I was at Grainger two weeks ago for a new $20 capacitor for Mater and there were large canisters of r22 sitting on the shelf for reasonable prices.

Try Craig’s list for a simple recharge. Would not invest in the units beyond refrigerant at this point. We’re quickly becoming dinosaurs. Feed it, but don’t waste the time grooming it.

[Sherifftruman]

R22 will not be illegal. It is true it can’t be made anymore starting in 2020, but existing stocks can still be used and R22 will be recovered and recycled as well. Now, it won’t be cheap as time goes on but there’s actually been a bit of a dip this year as companies have been making the maximum allowed and consumers have evidently been changing over a bit faster than expected.

There are also refrigerants that can be used in R22 systems as a retrofit.

[Nik4me]

Originally Posted by M3Guy

Hey, my water sourced heat pump has a tiny freon leak. I wanted to just replace the coil, then found out R22 refrigerant will be illegal 1/1/2020. I need to know, will there be a black market for this R22? If not, what are my options besides replacement of the whole unit? Is there another compatible refrigerant? I REALLY don't want to fork over $7k for a new unit. Anyone got any R22 stashed away?

Try to get a quote for a replacement refrigerant- R-407c, but you need to change lubricants as well at the same time.
R-407c- used in commercial refrigeration should be there for a while.
Then compare with the costs of replacement. They still sell Freon though- they won’t be able to manufacture it in 2020, but still do it now
https://abilityrefrigerants.com/prod...iABEgLTxfD_BwE
You may need less- see how many Freon oz charge needed for your equipment
It is on the label

[btuhack]

There are "drop in" replacements for 22 so scarcity isn't the issue... but YOU STILL HAVE THE LEAK to resolve.



If you get in a jam, I sell refrigerants out of my trunk down by the fairgrounds. Ask (quitly) for lefty.