Like a heart, your home comfort system must circulate a fluid – called a refrigerant – to function properly. Refrigerants are formulated to circulate in a system for years. That’s great for ensuring air conditioners and heat pumps last a long time. But it’s a concern if the refrigerant escapes into the atmosphere where it can cause problems.

In January 2010, the U.S. Clean Air Act requires all new residential air conditioners and heat pumps to use refrigerants that do not affect the atmosphere’s ozone layer. R-410A is a proven refrigerant that has been approved since it’s more environmentally friendly and doesn’t harm the ozone layer. R-22 refrigerant, which is still available in limited quantities for servicing existing R-22 equipment, will be phased out and R-22 equipment will no longer be sold after January 2010.