Information provided by Home Warranty of America
Since January 1st, the EPA has required R-410A refrigerant, also known by the brand names of Puron, SUVA and Gentron AZ-20, in newly manufactured air conditioners and heat pump systems.
What does this mean to you as a Katy home owner? It means that all American air conditioning and heat pump equipment produced after January 1st or those imported to the United States after the first of this year must use R-410A or another non-ozone depleting refrigerant.
What was the cause of this change? The release of hydro-chlorofluorocarbons into the atmosphere has depleted the Earth's protective ozone layer and created an ozone hole. This change of refrigerants will reduce the release of this man-made chemical and help the ozone layer to recover. This is a worldwide initiative.
Most currently owned air conditioners, those manufactured prior to January 1st, can still be serviced and repaired. R-22 refrigerant is available.
When a replacement system is necessary, a system can still be replaced with R-22 equipment as 
long as it is available. There is no ban on the sale of R-22 air conditioners; the new regulation only requires manufacturers to now produce R-410A. However, the price of these phased out coolants and R-22 system parts will continue to rise as their availability decreases. Parts and R-22 coolant may take longer to acquire.
When R-22 equipment is no longer available, failed systems must be replaced with R-410A equipment.
For more information on these changes contact Home Warranty of America.
For information about all Katy area homes, you can search the entire Houston MLS from my blog, http://fuellingkaty.com. For questions or to tour any area homes, contact me directly at 713-818-2404. I have specialized in Katy real estate for over 20 years. Experience does count!
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