R-22 & R-410A: What’s the Difference?

R-22 refrigerant has been the industry standard for residential heat pumps and air conditioning systems for decades, but due to its environmental impact, is being phased out.  As of January 2010, manufacturers will no longer make equipment that uses R-22, and will exclusively manufacture units that use the more environmentally friendly refrigerants, especially R-410a.  R-22 will still be manufactured to service units that require that refrigerant until 2020, when it will no longer be manufactured in the US and effectively phased out.  While R-22 is going to be available for a while, as the phase-out continues, we expect it to become more expensive and in an increasingly limited supply.