R22 Replacement

Why should you be actively considering replacing your R22 air conditioning?

Any air conditioning over 10 years old probably uses R22 refrigerant, an ozone-depleting CFC which is now banned in new systems across the EU. By law R22 systems will become unserviceable at the end of 2014, meaning that it will be illegal to repair it in the event of any failure. Spare parts and recycled R22 are already in short supply and increasingly expensive. This often results in it being uneconomical to repair equipment. Furthermore, modern replacement systems use environmentally responsible refrigerants and are up to 60% more energy efficient than R-22 systems, meaning that they often pay back their replacement costs in energy savings alone within 3 or 4 years.

So, with the strong likelihood that any air conditioning system over 10 years old contains R22, what are the choices facing owners of such equipment?

Essentially there are 4 options :-

1. Do nothing
2. Continue to use the equipment and use recycled R22 if the system needs refilling with additional refrigerant
3. Replace the R22 refrigerant for one of the replacement ‘drop in’ alternatives now available
4. Replace the old installation with a new one using R410a or other non-ozone-depleting refrigerant

At first sight, in these tough economic times, Option 1 may seem to be the most attractive. Nothing in the regulations prohibits the continuing use of R22 equipment so, if it’s operating properly, there is no urgent need to replace an existing installation. The risk with this strategy is however, at some stage, the equipment will require maintenance and at that point the system’s owner will be forced to choose between Options 2, 3 or 4. Even worse, with a failed system to repair urgently, there may be little opportunity for a proper assessment of the alternatives and expensive mistakes could be made.

Option 2, the use of recycled R22, seems to provide an easy way of extending the life of existing installations. However, studies by the British Refrigeration Association identified that a volumes of R22 being returned for recycling were falling well short of potential demand. Due to its scarcity, recycled R22 is a relatively expensive. Therefore, its poor availability and high cost means that a policy of relying on recycled R22 when the need arises is unlikely to be wise.

So, what of Option 3, to replace the R22 in your air conditioning system with one of a bewildering array of alternative ‘ozone-friendly’ alternatives such as R410a, R404A, R407c, R417A or even Propane or CO₂?

Unfortunately none of these alternatives offers refrigeration characteristics directly equivalent to those of R22. Issues relating to the performance specification of the system, the pressure rating of compressors, condensers and associated pipe work, leak containment (particularly in the case of Propane or CO₂), lubricant compatibility and potential conflicts with manufacturer warranties will all need to be considered. As a consequence, equipment owners and their maintenance contractors will be forced to conduct extensive testing before the most suitable alternative can be established. For owners of ageing R22 air conditioning equipment with a limited useful life remaining, these complications may be overwhelming.

This brings us to Option 4, the replacement of the old R22-based air conditioning equipment with a new ozone-friendly system. At first sight, this seems to be the most expensive solution. However there are a number of factors which make this alternative increasingly the option of choice for owners, operators and maintenance contractors alike.

The first reason is that as any R22-based air conditioning system is at least 10 years old and will be driven by obsolete fixed-speed compressor technology. Its replacement with a modern, digital inverter-controlled system will bring significant immediate energy savings of up to 70%. Studies by world-leading manufacturers such as Toshiba and Fujitsu estimate that the replacement of a typical 5kW wall-mounted or ceiling cassette unit can save over £550 per year in electricity (a 67% reduction) and reduce the annual production of CO₂, the greenhouse gas associated with global warming, by over 1.3 tonnes - improvements which begin immediately and continue throughout the life of the new equipment.

These savings alone mean that a new air conditioning system is likely to pay back its original installation cost within four years in energy savings alone. In addition, older air conditioning compressors become worn, filters become blocked and heat exchangers fur up, therefore a new system will operate even more efficiently because it is likely to be working less hard and for fewer hours per day to provide the desired level of cooling.

The cost and time spent replacing out-dated equipment can be reduced in some cases by retaining existing pipe work and electrical supplies. Many equipment manufacturers have introduced condensers and fan coil units specifically designed for this purpose, which can greatly simplify the installation and reduce disruption to building finishes and the activities of the occupiers.

Assuming the pipe work is replaced or found to be in good condition, a new installation will offer improved resistance to refrigerant leaks, ensuring owners can more easily satisfy their obligations under the European Fluorinated Gases (FGas) Regulations. These regulations require annual inspections to be carried out by qualified personnel, ensuring refrigerant systems are free of leaks and in full working order.

A new system is also far less likely to suffer a breakdown and the associated costs of downtime and repairs, and will commonly come with the added benefit of a manufacturer-backed 3 or 5-year warranty. A little-known further benefit is that, as almost all modern air conditioning systems incorporate heat pump technology as standard, the same system that provides comfort cooling in the summer can provide clean, highly energy-efficient heating in the winter.

And, for a limited time Andrews Air Conditioning is offering its R22 Scrappage Scheme which provides a massive £150 scrappage allowance towards your new air conditioning for every R22 system we replace when you take out a Planned Maintenance Contract with us. For more information contact us and ask about R22 Scrappage.

So the arguments in favour of Option 4, a full system replacement, are surprisingly compelling but there are 3 more factors which make it even more convincing.

Firstly, if the installation is in a domestic property, purchased by a charity or by a range of other not-for-profit institutions, the reduced VAT rate of 5% applies.

Secondly, the Government’s commitments contained in the 1997 Kyoto Protocol came into force in February 2005. The aim of radically reducing the UK’s CO₂ emissions has led to the introduction of the Enhanced Capital Allowance Scheme (www.etl.decc.gov.uk). This Revenue & Customs-backed scheme allows any company replacing an existing air conditioning system with a more energy-efficient installation, to offset the entire cost of the project against its taxable profits in year the new system is installed. This effectively reduces the cost of the new system by an impressive 30%. It should also be remembered that a more energy-efficient system will enable building owners to achieve improved energy ratings under the recently introduced Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.

If you are unsure whether your air conditioning system contains R22 look for an information plate on the outdoor (condenser) units or the indoor (fan coil) units. Alternatively, the manufacturer, the original installer or your maintenance provider should also be able to assist.

Fortunately for building owners and occupiers who are concerned about meeting their responsibilities, a wide range of technical expertise and commercial guidance is available from companies such as Andrews Air Conditioning Services who are members of the Register of Companies Competent to Handle Refrigerants (REFCOM). The best advice is to make contact with us early in order to develop an effective R22 replacement plan.

R22 Scrappage Scheme

We are all familiar with scrappage schemes for old cars and boilers. But here’s something new - The Andrews Air Conditioning Scrappage Scheme.

Any air conditioning over 10 years old probably uses R22 refrigerant, an ozone-depleting CFC which is now banned. By law R22 systems will become unserviceable at the end of 2014 - spare parts are already in short supply and increasingly expensive.

The Andrews Air Conditioning Scrappage Scheme gives you a massive £150 scrappage allowance towards your new air conditioning for every R22 system we replace when you take out a Planned Maintenance Contract with us. And all our new air conditioning is ozone-friendly, highly energy-efficient and comes with up to 5 years warranty.

Funding for this fabulous offer is strictly limited to pre-agreed installations, so don’t miss out.
Call us now on 0800 731 8833 for free, friendly, expert advice.