R-22 Refrigerant Leak? Here's What to Do | PV Heating & Air (2024)

FAQs

R-22 Refrigerant Leak? Here's What to Do | PV Heating & Air? ›

Here's what to do if you've got a pre-2010 HVAC system

The short answer is: You should turn off your AC unit and unplug it from the power source. If the leak is small, you can try to repair it yourself using a sealant or tape. If the leak is larger, you'll need to call a professional for repairs. Once the leak has been repaired, have your AC unit serviced.

You may just need some maintenance or redesign work. However, if the compressor has failed, especially on an older R22 air conditioner, it's often time to replace. The compressor is the heart of the system, and the investment to fix it may not be worth the cost.

Since the HVAC industry phased out the use of R22 Freon in 2010, the coolant has become more expensive each year. You don't need to replace an old air conditioner that uses R22 if it's still working. But, you may need a new one if you have a coolant leak.

According to the guidelines, you have 30 days to repair a refrigerant leak once it is discovered. If you cannot get it repaired in that time, then you have to create and record a plan to get it fixed within 120 days.

So what are the potential dangers to humans in the event of a freon leak? Freon is dangerous when inhaled for a long time, with the first symptoms being similar to those of mild poisoning: dizziness, headaches, blurred vision, increased heart rate and the skin cyanosis.

Your HVAC specialist can snag R-22 for $50 to $80 per pound wholesale. However, when you call on a repair team to replace it, expect your bill to run from $90 to $150 per pound. It's important to note that a high-functioning HVAC system only requires a refill if something is wrong.

What's a safer alternative to R22? All air conditioners and cooling equipment currently being manufactured use hydro-fluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants. R410A is the most common, but others include R134a, R407C and R407A.

AC Replacement

Replace your R-22 air conditioner or heat pump when the unit has reached the end of its lifespan. Systems using this refrigerant haven't been manufactured since 2009, so there's a chance that, based on the typical lifespan of AC units and heat pumps (15 years), you might need a new unit soon.

Can you stay in a house with a Freon leak? ›

One significant health risk is refrigerant poisoning. Inhaling Freon or other refrigerants, even in small amounts, can lead to headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Exposure to refrigerant fumes can quickly escalate to more severe health issues, such as loss of consciousness and even death.

Vapors are heavier than air and can cause suffocation by reducing oxygen available for breathing. Misuse or intentional inhalation abuse may cause death without warning symptoms, due to cardi- ac effects. Rapid evaporation of the product may cause frostbite.

Toxic Freon Leaks

A freon leak will produce a smell between sweet and chloroform.

The cost to convert a central air conditioner from R-22 to R-410A can range anywhere from $2,000 to over $4,500 in the New Jersey area. The bottom line? If your AC unit is 8+ years old, it's usually not worth the cost to convert and you should just replace the entire R-22 unit with an R-410A unit.

On January 1, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned the production and import of R-22 because of its particularly harmful impact on the ozone layer when released into the air. In 2010, the U.S. stopped the sale of new air conditioning units that use R-22.

Freon™ MO29 (R-422D) refrigerant is a low-toxicity, non-ozone depleting hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) replacement for R-22.

Many property owners ask themselves, “Are refrigerant leaks dangerous?” HVAC technicians treat refrigerant leaks as emergencies because inhaling Freon can cause severe health issues. The short-term symptoms of refrigerant exposure often include: Trouble breathing. Nausea and vomiting.

If you suspect that there's a refrigerant leak, the first thing you should do is turn off your HVAC system. This will prevent further damage and give you time to assess the situation. Once you've done this, you'll want to evacuate the area as soon as possible.

An HVAC technician will be able to identify symptoms of a leak and be able to do repairs before it turns into a bigger issue.

The type of leak you have coming from your AC unit can mean the difference between paying $125 and paying $1,500. Repairing a Freon or refrigerant leak costs between $250 and $1,550 on average, while water leaks cost between $125 and $325.