EPA Warns Again About Risks of Using R-22a Refrigerant
Agency notes unapproved refrigerant poses risk of fire or explosion
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is cautioning homeowners, HVAC contractors, and service technicians of the safety hazards related to recharging existing home air conditioning systems with a propane-based refrigerant. Using a propane-based refrigerant in an air conditioner that is not designed to use propane or flammable refrigerants poses a threat to homeowners as well as service technicians, because systems that are recharged with an unapproved alternative called “22a” can catch fire or explode, resulting in injury and property damage. EPA said it continues to investigate instances where propane-based refrigerants have been illegally marketed and used as substitutes for HCFC-22 (R-22) and will continue to take enforcement actions where appropriate.
“Using an unapproved, flammable refrigerant in a system that wasn’t designed to address flammability can lead to serious consequences, including explosion or injury in the worst cases,” said Janet McCabe, acting assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “As the summer cooling season gets started, we want to make sure consumers and equipment owners know what is going into their system is safe.”