Implications Of The Clean Air Act On Tempe Heating Repair

By Vicki Diaz


In areas where winters are fairly moderate heat pumps can provide most of the heat needed to keep a home warm. Many of these older systems use R22 as a refrigerant medium to transfer heat into or out of the home. The Clean Air Act calls for elimination of 90% of this refrigerant over the next few months. This has some big implications on locals needing Tempe heating repair.

R22 Freon works well within the closed loop HVAC system. It can be compressed to a liquid and evaporated to a gas in the right temperature range to provide heat in the winter and cooling in the summer. However, if the substance leaks out of these closed loops it can add to the ozone depletion. The clean air act is going to make this substance much harder to buy. When it is available is much more expensive. This has some important implications for homeowners who depend on older heat pump units.

Heat pumps designed for use with R22 are unable to use the newer replacement. These systems cannot be retrofitted to allow the older device to work with the replacement coolant. For most homeowners, the option will require replacement of the unit instead of repairing it.

While some may be unaware of this law, it is a requirement stipulated by the Clean Air Act that became law in 1970 by the signing of President Nixon. The law is enforced by the EPA. Although it may be possible to have R22 added to systems for a few more months the price is expected to increase even more. By the year 2020, R22 manufacturer will be outlawed.

Homeowners who have faced the need for major repairs on their HVAC systems have found it often to be more cost effective to replace the entire unit rather than make these repairs. Replacement became even more viable with units between ten and twenty years of age. With this change in the law, they may want to look even closer at replacing units instead of having the heat pump fixed.

When homeowners make these replacements of their system, they should consider choosing a unit offering a higher efficiency. While the initial outlay may be more for the more efficient unit, it can offer potential savings for many years ahead. Many homeowners find the reduction in energy costs every month help to pay the cost of the unit by the midpoint of its useful life.

Many power companies offer rebates that can help to offset the cost of installing energy star appliances including heat pumps. In addition to state or federal governments may offer tax incentives. Financing of the new system is also an option for the homeowner.

For additional information on the effect of these new regulations concerning R22 mean to the homeowner when needing Tempe heating repair, one should call a reputable HVAC service company. They can discuss homeowner options and make recommendations. They can also provide repairs for natural gas, propane or electric furnaces that may not be affected by these changes in the law.




About the Author:



0 Response to "Implications Of The Clean Air Act On Tempe Heating Repair"

Post a Comment

wdcfawqafwef