If your AC uses R-22 (commonly called Freon), your system is on borrowed time. R-22 production was completely banned on January 1, 2020 under the Montreal Protocol, and the only refrigerant available for repairs is reclaimed from scrapped systems. The supply is shrinking every year, the price keeps climbing, and eventually you won't be able to repair your system at any price. Here's what DFW homeowners with R-22 systems need to know.
As an EPA 608 Universal certified technician working under Frosty's TDLR Texas License TACLA126718E, I've recovered R-22 from more than 200 scrapped systems in 8 years — every single pound of it logged and turned in to an EPA-certified reclaimer, which is the law. Last August I took a call from a homeowner in South Irving whose 1998 R-22 system had a slow leak. Another company had quoted him $1,850 to "top it off." I sat at his kitchen table and ran the math: 8 pounds of R-22 at $200/lb = $1,600 in refrigerant alone, plus the leak would come right back, plus the system was already 26 years old with a rusted evaporator. We replaced it with a new Stay Cool R-454B package for $11,400 — and his cooling bills dropped by $80/month the first summer. More about how we handle R-22 recovery and next-generation refrigerants on our about page.
Why Was R-22 Banned?
R-22 was banned because it's an ozone-depleting substance (ODS) that damages the Earth's protective ozone layer. The EPA phased it out under the Montreal Protocol — an international treaty signed by 197 countries.
The phase-out timeline:
- 2010: Production of new R-22 equipment banned in the US
- 2020: All R-22 production and importation banned
- 2020-present: Only reclaimed R-22 (recovered from old systems) is available
- Future: Supply continues shrinking as old systems are retired
This isn't a suggestion or a recommendation — it's federal law. R-22 will become progressively harder to find and more expensive until it's essentially unavailable.
Related: How Long Does an AC System Last in Texas?.
How Much Does R-22 Cost Now?
R-22 currently costs $150-$250 per pound for reclaimed refrigerant. For context, it cost $10-$15 per pound in 2010. A typical residential AC system holds 6-12 pounds of R-22.
What an R-22 recharge costs in 2026:
Every flat-rate price below covers the complete repair service — diagnosis by a licensed technician, certified parts, labor, testing, and our workmanship guarantee. These are not part-only prices; they are the total, all-inclusive cost to fully resolve the problem at your home.
Our complete small top-off (2-3 lbs) repair service — diagnosis, licensed technician, certified parts, labor, and our workmanship guarantee — runs $300-$750 ($350-$500 for Frosty Club members) — $650-$1,250. A full moderate recharge (4-6 lbs) repair, covering the service call, diagnosis, parts, labor, and testing, is $600-$1,500 ($350-$1,000 for Frosty Club members) — $950-$2,500. For a total full recharge (8-12 lbs) repair — including all parts, labor, system testing, and our guarantee — the flat rate is $1,200-$3,000 ($350-$1,000 for Frosty Club members) — $1,550-$4,000.
And here's the critical point: your system is sealed (hermetic). If refrigerant is low, there's a leak. We never just "top off" refrigerant — that's throwing money at a problem that comes right back. We find the leak, repair it, then recharge. But even with the leak fixed, your aging system will likely develop another leak within 1-2 years because the coils and line sets are 15-25+ years old and corroded throughout.
How Do You Know If Your System Uses R-22?
Check the data plate — a metal label on the side of your outdoor condenser unit. It lists the model number, serial number, and refrigerant type (usually labeled "Refrigerant" or "Charge"). Look for:
- R-22 or HCFC-22 = Your system uses the phased-out refrigerant
- R-410A or HFC-410A = Your system uses the current (but soon phased down) refrigerant
- R-454B or R-32 = Your system uses the latest generation
Age-based guide:
- Installed before 2010: Almost certainly R-22
- Installed 2010-2014: Could be either R-22 or R-410A
- Installed 2015-2024: R-410A
- Installed 2025+: R-454B or R-32
If you can't read the data plate or it's worn off, call us for a free identification — we can tell by the system model number.
Related: How to Choose the Right AC Size for Your DFW Home.
Should You Repair or Replace Your R-22 System?
This is the most common question I get from homeowners with older systems in Farmers Branch and Irving — cities with housing stock from the 1960s-80s where R-22 systems are still common.
The math is clear: replace in most cases.
Scenario 1 — Minor repair (capacitor, contactor): If the repair is $500-$600 and the system is otherwise running well, repair is reasonable. You're buying time while you plan for replacement.
Scenario 2 — Refrigerant leak: At $150-$250/lb plus leak repair, you're spending $950-$4,000 on a system that's end-of-life. A new system costs $8,000-$20,000+ and lasts 12-15 years with modern R-454B refrigerant that won't be phased out. The R-22 repair buys you 1-2 years at best.
Scenario 3 — Major component (compressor, evaporator coil): Never repair. A complete compressor repair service — flat-rate $3,500-$5,000 all-inclusive covering diagnosis, parts, labor, testing, and our guarantee — on an R-22 system is throwing that money at equipment that's obsolete. Put that money toward a new system.
The payback math:
| Option | Cost Now | Cost Over 5 Years | Comfort Level | |--------|---------|-------------------|---------------| | R-22 repair + recharge | $1,500-$4,000 | $5,000-$12,000 (repeated repairs) | Declining | | New system (Stay Cool) | $8,000-$14,000 | $8,000-$14,000 (warranty covered) | Excellent | | New system (Stay Frosty) | $12,000-$18,000 | $12,000-$18,000 (warranty covered) | Superior |
What Refrigerant Do New Systems Use?
All new residential AC systems in 2026 use either R-454B or R-32 — next-generation refrigerants mandated by the AIM Act. These have dramatically lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) than R-410A:
- R-22: ODP of 0.055, GWP of 1,810 — banned
- R-410A: ODP of 0, GWP of 2,088 — being phased down
- R-454B: ODP of 0, GWP of 466 — current standard
- R-32: ODP of 0, GWP of 675 — current standard
R-454B and R-32 are classified as A2L (mildly flammable), so new systems include built-in refrigerant leak detection sensors. In practical terms, the flammability risk is minimal — the refrigerant requires a specific concentration and ignition source to combust. All new systems are UL-listed and approved for residential use.
The good news: you're going from a banned refrigerant to one that's future-proof. No more worrying about availability or price spikes.
What Does Replacing an R-22 System Look Like?
Here's the process when we replace an R-22 system:
- Assessment — We evaluate your current system, ductwork, electrical panel, and measure for proper sizing
- R-22 recovery — We recover all remaining R-22 from your old system per EPA Section 608 regulations. By law, refrigerant cannot be vented to atmosphere.
- Old equipment removal — Condenser, air handler/furnace, thermostat — all hauled away
- New installation — Complete new system with R-454B, Frosty Thermostat, new disconnect box, electrical whip, overflow shutoff, drain treatment
- New line sets — R-22 copper lines are typically replaced because they're sized differently and may have residual mineral oil (R-454B uses POE oil)
- Permit and inspection — We pull the permit and schedule the city inspection
- Commissioning — Full system test, refrigerant charge verification, airflow measurement
Our three tiers:
- Stay Cool (Goodman 15 SEER2): $8,000-$14,000
- Stay Frosty (Carrier 18 SEER2): $12,000-$18,000
- It's A Frosty Life (Trane 20+ SEER2): $16,000-$20,000+
Financing available through Optimus, Synchrony, and GreenSky — $0 down on approved credit. Frosty Club members save an additional 10-15%.
Check your exact pricing: Use our AC Replacement Cost Calculator.
Call (469) 254-0548 or request service online.
We serve Farmers Branch, Coppell, Irving, Flower Mound, Lewisville, and Grapevine. 99 Google reviews, 4.9 stars, family-owned since 2018.
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Written by Omar Jacobo, EPA 608 Universal Certified Lead Technician at Frosty's HVAC LLC. Family-owned since 2018, 99 Google reviews at 4.9 stars, Texas License TACLA126718E. Serving DFW homeowners with flat-rate pricing and no surprises.
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