R-22 Refrigerant

R-22 Refrigerant: A chemical compound (also known as Freon) that was commonly used as the refrigerant in residential and commercial air conditioning systems for several decades. However, due to its harmful effects on the ozone layer, its production and use have been gradually phased out under the Montreal Protocol and U.S. EPA regulations. Systems using R-22 are increasingly obsolete, and homeowners are encouraged to switch to more environmentally friendly refrigerants like R-410A. Some manufacturers, like Lennox, have offered dry-charged units (units shipped without refrigerant) for continued use with existing R-22 systems, but this is only a temporary solution as R-22 becomes harder to source.