R-22 is the refrigerant most US home air conditioners and heat pumps used until about 2010, and it's what people usually mean when they say "Freon." It damages the ozone layer, so production and import in the US ended on January 1, 2020. You can still run an R-22 system and have it serviced, but only with recovered, reclaimed or stockpiled refrigerant, which makes every pound expensive.
If your R-22 system works, there's no rule that says you have to replace it. If it springs a leak or a major part fails, you have three real options: repair with R-22, convert to a replacement refrigerant, or replace the system. This guide walks through each.
What Is R-22 Refrigerant?
R-22 (often written R22, and sold as Freon), also written HCFC-22, is a hydrochlorofluorocarbon. The chlorine in it breaks down ozone in the upper atmosphere, which is why it was phased out under the Montreal Protocol and the Clean Air Act. It's also a strong greenhouse gas, with a global warming potential of about 1,810.
It was the standard refrigerant in home central air for decades because it worked well at moderate pressures with ordinary mineral oil. Those same traits are why newer refrigerants can't simply be swapped in.
How to tell if your system uses R-22
Check the data plate on the outdoor unit. Look for "R-22" or "HCFC-22" next to the refrigerant charge. As a rule of thumb, a unit built before 2010 most likely uses R-22. If the system was converted to a replacement blend, it should have an added label showing the new refrigerant and oil. More on reading the plate in our Freon and AC refrigerant types guide.
The R-22 Phase Out: Dates That Matter
| Date | What changed | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2010 | New R-22 could only be used to service equipment made before this date, so new home systems switched to R-410A | Any R-22 system in your home is likely 15 or more years old |
| January 1, 2020 | US production and import of R-22 ended | All R-22 for service now comes from recovered, reclaimed or previously produced supply |
| Today | No federal requirement to replace or convert R-22 equipment | You can keep a working system; repair costs are the issue |
Recovered R-22 can't be sold to a new owner unless it has been reclaimed, meaning reprocessed to the same purity as new refrigerant by an EPA-certified reclaimer. That reclaiming step, plus a shrinking pool of old systems to recover from, is part of why R-22 costs so much.
How Much Does R-22 Cost?
Published cost guides in 2026 commonly put R-22 at roughly $90 to $150 per pound installed, with some reporting higher prices where supply is tight. Compare that with roughly $50 to $80 per pound commonly listed for R-410A. Treat these as broad national figures, not a quote.
The per-pound price is only part of the bill. A typical repair also includes a service call or diagnostic fee, a leak search, the leak repair itself, and labor to evacuate and recharge the system. A home system can hold anywhere from a few pounds to well over 10 pounds depending on its size and the length of the refrigerant lines, and the data plate lists the factory charge. For how a leak repair is priced, see AC refrigerant leak repair.
R-22 Replacement Options Compared
| Option | What it involves | Pros | Cons | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Repair and recharge with R-22 | Find and fix the leak, then recharge with reclaimed R-22 | Keeps the system as designed; no conversion work | Highest refrigerant cost per pound; supply keeps shrinking | Small, cheap fixes on a system you plan to replace soon |
| Convert to a replacement refrigerant | Recover the R-22, fix all leaks, change parts and oil as needed, charge with a blend such as R-407C, R-422D, R-427A or R-438A | Cheaper refrigerant; keeps the existing equipment | Usually some loss of capacity or efficiency; labor-heavy; results depend on the system and the technician | A system in good mechanical shape with years of life left |
| Replace the system | New outdoor unit and indoor coil (often with a new or flushed line set) using R-454B or R-32 | New warranty, higher efficiency, current refrigerant | Highest upfront cost | Major leak, failed compressor or coil, or an older system |
What converting an R-22 system involves
Replacement blends for R-22 are HFC mixtures. None of them is a perfect match, and the term "drop-in" oversells them:
- Oil. R-22 systems use mineral oil, and HFC refrigerants don't carry mineral oil around the loop well. R-407C needs the mineral oil replaced with POE oil. Blends such as R-422D, R-427A and R-438A are marketed as tolerating some or all of the existing mineral oil, but many technicians and manufacturer guides still recommend adding or switching to POE to keep oil returning to the compressor.
- Performance. Most blends deliver somewhat less cooling capacity than R-22 in the same system, and some need a different expansion device or valve adjustments.
- Leaks first. Converting a leaking system just moves the leak to a different refrigerant. All leaks should be repaired before the new charge goes in.
- Labeling. The system should be labeled with the new refrigerant and oil so the next technician doesn't mix refrigerants.
Ask the technician which blend they recommend for your compressor, what capacity change to expect, and whether they'll change the oil and filter drier. EPA's significant new alternatives program lists which substitutes are acceptable for retrofitting R-22 equipment.
Why you can't use R-410A in an R-22 system
R-410A runs at much higher pressure than R-22 and uses POE oil. An R-22 compressor, coil and valves aren't rated for those pressures. Swapping only the outdoor unit for an R-410A model doesn't work either, because the indoor coil has to be a listed match for the new outdoor unit. Moving off R-22 to a modern refrigerant means a new outdoor unit and indoor coil at minimum. For more on the refrigerant that followed R-22, see R-410A refrigerant.
Stay away from "R-22a"
Products sold as "22a" or "R-22a" are propane-based hydrocarbon refrigerants marketed as R-22 substitutes. EPA has warned that they're flammable, that they're not approved for existing home air conditioners, and that systems charged with them can catch fire or explode. Don't use them, and ask any technician what refrigerant they plan to put in your system before they start.
Repair or Replace an R-22 System?
| Your situation | Usually the better move |
|---|---|
| Small, accessible leak such as a valve core or a flare fitting, system otherwise solid | Repair it and recharge |
| Leaking indoor or outdoor coil | Replace the system |
| Failed compressor | Replace the system |
| System runs fine but needs refrigerant every season | Replace the system or convert after fixing the leaks; don't keep topping off |
| System in good shape, budget won't cover replacement this year | Ask about converting to a replacement blend after leaks are fixed |
| Already planning a remodel, new ductwork or a heat pump | Replace the system as part of the project |
The math usually favors replacement because R-22 systems are old. A failed AC compressor repair or a new coil on a 15-to-25-year-old system puts expensive parts and expensive refrigerant into equipment near the end of its life. For the price side of that comparison, see AC repair cost and central AC installation cost.
What Homeowners Should Not Do
- Don't buy R-22 online or try to recharge the system yourself. Refrigerant for home systems can only be sold to technicians certified under EPA Section 608 and their employers. Cylinders advertised to the public may be contaminated, mislabeled or not R-22 at all.
- Don't use car AC cans, R-22a or leak sealer. Car cans hold the wrong refrigerant, R-22a is a flammable product EPA has warned against, and sealers can clog the metering device.
- Don't keep paying to top off a known leak. With R-22 prices where they are, a few rounds of topping off can cost as much as a meaningful share of a new system.
- Don't let anyone vent the old refrigerant. When an R-22 system is repaired or removed, the refrigerant has to be recovered. Venting is prohibited under the Clean Air Act, and the recovered R-22 is worth something to the reclaim market.
Questions to Ask Before Paying for R-22 Work
- Where is the leak, and how did you find it?
- How many pounds will the system need, and what's your price per pound?
- Is the refrigerant you'll use reclaimed R-22 or a replacement blend? If a blend, which one, and will you change the oil and label the system?
- What would a new system cost, and what efficiency rating would it have?
- If the system is being replaced, will you recover the old refrigerant?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is R-22 illegal to use?
No. It is not illegal to own or run an R-22 air conditioner, and certified technicians can still service one. US production and import of R-22 ended on January 1, 2020, so service relies on refrigerant recovered from old systems, reclaimed to purity standards, or produced before the ban.
Can I still get R-22 refrigerant?
A certified technician can, from reclaimed and previously produced supply. Homeowners can't buy it legally without EPA Section 608 certification. Because no new R-22 is being made, expect it to cost far more per pound than the refrigerants used in newer systems.
What is the replacement for R-22?
For new equipment, R-22 was replaced by R-410A, which has itself been replaced in new systems by R-454B and R-32. For keeping an existing R-22 system running, technicians use retrofit blends such as R-407C, R-422D, R-427A or R-438A, each with its own oil and performance trade-offs.
Can you put R-410A in an R-22 system?
No. R-410A runs at much higher pressures than R-22 and needs a different type of oil, so the coils, compressor and valves in an R-22 system aren't built for it. Moving to R-410A or a newer refrigerant means replacing the equipment.
Should I replace my R-22 air conditioner?
If it works, you don't have to. If it develops a significant leak, a failed compressor or a failed coil, replacing the system is usually the better use of money, because the system is at least 15 years old and every pound of R-22 is expensive.
Is there a direct replacement for R-22 refrigerant?
No true drop-in exists. Blends such as R-407C, R-422D, R-427A and R-438A are used for conversions, but they usually lose some capacity and may need an oil change to POE. All leaks must be fixed first, and the system must be relabeled. Never use products sold as R-22a, which are flammable hydrocarbon refrigerants.
What does replacing an R22 AC system involve?
A new outdoor unit and a matched indoor coil on R-454B or R-32, with the old R-22 recovered and the line set flushed or replaced. You cannot swap only the outdoor unit. For cost, a replacement with existing ductwork typically runs $3,800 to $7,500, the figure on our central AC installation cost page. See the AC replacement cost guide for what moves that number.