For decades, R-22, commonly known as Freon, was the lifeblood of residential air conditioning systems across the United States. It reliably kept homes cool, offering a much-needed reprieve from scorching summers, particularly in places like Houston where the heat and humidity can be relentless. However, science revealed a concerning truth: R-22 is an ozone-depleting substance. Its release contributes significantly to the deterioration of Earth’s protective ozone layer, a critical shield against harmful ultraviolet radiation. This discovery spurred global action, culminating in the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer – an international treaty designed to phase out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting chemicals.
For Houston homeowners with older AC units, this isn’t just an environmental statistic