When will R-22 (or blends that contain R-22 and/or R-142b) no longer be available for purchase?
The purchase of R-22 has been limited to 608 certified technicians since 1994. Currently, technicians can purchase newly manufactured R-22 to service existing appliances. EPA has restricted the amount of R-22 in 2010 and will stop its production and import in 2020. EPA expects that recycled and reclaimed R-22 will remain available after 2020 to service or maintain equipment. It is difficult to predict when supplies will completely be exhausted; however, EPA anticipates that supplies should be available allowing for a smooth transition for equipment containing R-22 following normal use and equipment patterns. Technicians should properly recover and recycle R-22 from existing refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment to help ensure the availability of future supplies. Recovered refrigerant cannot be sold to a new owner for use as a refrigerant; instead, it must be sent to an EPA certified refrigerant reclaimer prior to sale.
