Can i buy freon

Make sense now? Now the question is can you purchase Freon? The refrigerant type for your air conditioner will be on a label on the unit outside your home. If you are not able to find it there you can also look up your make and model number online to determine what refrigerant is needed. Regardless of what refrigerant it takes you are unfortunately not able to purchase it without being licensed and certified with the Environmental Protection Agency.

The same can now be said if your system takes RA or Puron. In the past, prior to , you were able to purchase Puron and other HFC refrigerants without a license. We hope this is useful to you. Servicing includes replacing failed components.

R22 also called HCFC is being phased out worldwide because of its harmful effects on the ozone layer. The U. Only recycled, recovered, or reclaimed supplies of R refrigerant HCFC are now available to service existing air conditioners. You will not have to stop using HCFC, and you will not have to replace existing equipment just to switch to a new refrigerant.

The switch to ozone-friendly refrigerants is occurring gradually to allow consumers time to replace air conditioners on a normal schedule. However, supplies of HCFC will be more limited and more expensive in the years ahead as the refrigerant is phased out of production. Starting in , new HCFC can no longer be produced, so consumers will need to rely on reclaimed and previously-produced quantities to service any home air-conditioning systems still operating after that date.

EPA expects that reclaimed and previously-produced HCFC will be available well after to service and maintain equipment, but the price and availability may change. EPA anticipates that supplies should allow for a smooth transition to alternative refrigerants.

While HFCs are not ozone-depleting substances, they are potent greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Yes, only specific HFC refrigerants are acceptable substitutes for different end uses. It is also illegal to knowingly vent or release these refrigerants— just as it is for ozone-depleting refrigerants like HCFC For central air conditioners, the nameplate is usually on the outdoor condenser.

If you know the manufacturer and model number, you can also call the manufacturer or check their website. The most important step you can take is to maintain your unit properly. Major leaks rarely develop in properly installed and regularly maintained units. Repairing leaks will keep your system operating at its best, while reducing refrigerant emissions and energy use. You can also save money by avoiding additional repairs in the future.

This list includes alternative older technologies. Here is a version of this list:. Obviously, there is a large difference between a Camry, Accord, and a Fusion. They are all different cars and all have different capabilities. It is important to realize that the same applies when it comes to refrigerants. The term Freon is a registered brand name by the DuPont company and the Chemours company.

That is also why the name stuck. It was the first major refrigerant used widely across the world. Not much later another refrigerant was developed by DuPont known as R The R and R refrigerants in tandem are responsible for the revolution of the refrigerant industry and were used in nearly every automobile and home air-conditioner for decades and decades. You can still buy individual cylinders of R on Ebay — click here. These refrigerants contained Chlorine and Chlorine was found to be damaging the Ozone layer in the Stratosphere.

This Ozone layer is what protected us from the ultraviolet rays from the sun. Without it the world would heat up, we would be exposed to more radiation, along with a host of other problems.

Scientists found this hole and sounded the alarm. This included the Freon branded refrigerants known as R and R This restriction stated that in order for you to legally purchase these types of refrigerants you would need to be either or certified with the EPA.

The section and section clauses come from the Clean Air Act of The point of this regulation was to prevent people who did not know what they were doing from accessing and handling refrigerant that contained Chlorine. Remember now that Chlorine was a main contributor to the hole that formed in the Ozone layer. Users could buy these refrigerants without requiring a license. However, after January 1st, the EPA passed a new regulation stating that HFC refrigerants would now need a proof of section or certification in order to purchase.

As I write this article in March of the country is still seeing the effects of this change. People who used to buy thirty pound cylinders of at their local NAPA dealer are now being turned away due to them not being certified. Please note that there is one exception here. If the user wants to purchase two pounds or less cans of refrigerant they still can without needing a certification number. So, instead of buying your thirty pound tank of a you now have to buy fifteen cans at a higher price.

The good news though is that you can still buy it. All of this criteria above is dictated by the EPA. For more information on the refrigerant restriction rules please go to the official EPA page. If you are seriously considering purchasing refrigerant then please do you research, obtain the proper certification, and then continue on reading this article for a list of distributors and contacts.

In that case it makes sense to have a look at our official refrigerant licensing guide. The question now is what kind of refrigerant do you need? Just like in the example I used above with the Honda Accord there are hundreds of different types of refrigerants on the market today. Now, I can give you some basic knowledge and form a hypothesis as to what refrigerant your unit is using but I can not know for sure.

It is always best to be absolutely certain as to what kind of refrigerant you need. Also, it is colorless and almost odorless. Besides, a leak may or may not be evident from the characteristic hissing sound. Physical exposure to Freon or inhaling the gas is hazardous. Freon poisoning can cause asphyxiation and burns, among other symptoms. Freon comprises many chemicals, such as hydrogen, carbon, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, etc.

You must not attempt to fix a leak in your AC unit or unscrew any enclosed components without adequate safety gear. The Freon phase-out by the EPA is a part of the larger countermeasure to prevent ozone destruction and protect the stratosphere. More than countries have undertaken these initiatives to phase out ozone-depleting substances per the Montreal Protocol treaty. The United States ended the production of halons in , many chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs in , methyl bromide in , and the hydro-chlorofluorocarbons or HCFCs starting from All HCFCs will be phased out by RA and other eco-friendly coolants have substituted Freon.

Homeowners will continue to have access to recycled and stockpiled Freon for now. It is difficult to predict if and when the coolant will become completely unavailable. If you want to consider a sustainable alternative, then you have only two options. Retrofitting is not inexpensive. Also, it is not a perfect solution for everyone. You must consult an expert AC technician to learn about all the pros and cons, especially the specific issues you may encounter given the unit you have and its current condition.