Air conditioners examined: The high cost of summer

TULSA - Maintaining your air conditioner could cost more this summer than in years past.

Most AC units still run on "R-22 Refrigerant," which is being phased out.

Janice Luce recently had the annual checkup for her air conditioner.

She found out from her technician that services could be a lot more expensive, depending on her Freon or R-22 Refrigerant needs.

"Groceries are up, everything is going up, and when you are on a fixed income, you don't have that extra money," said Luce.

Robert Enochs, manager at Wortman Central Air, says most Tulsa residents have R-22 Refrigerant.

"A majority of air conditioners that we service every day, we use hundreds of pounds of refrigerants every year," said Enochs.

Enochs says many customers will need refills because "a majority of air conditioners have small leaks."

This year, costs are up significantly.

"We have to pass the costs along, otherwise we are going to go bankrupt, it doesn't mean we doesn't care, it doesn't mean we don't feel bad," said Enochs.

The Environmental Protection Agency regulates R-22 and the chemical is being phased out, with production ending completely in 2020.

The rise is price is credited to the limited availability of the product.

"We expected 10 to 11 percent every year," said Enochs.  "We did not expect 45 percent this year and that's what they are proposing."

This year, the EPA has not made a final determination on how much R-22 Refrigerant will be available.

"If there isn't an approved production level, there basically can be no production," said Enochs.

In 2011, a pound of R-22 cost about $20.  This year, the price could increase to $60 or even $120 per pound, depending on when and from whom you purchase the product.

"Last year, I could buy a pallet of refrigerant and it wasn't a problem," said Enochs.  "This year I go to the same supply house and I can get two bottles, maybe five bottles."

If you've installed a brand new air conditioning system in the past few years, the R-22 Refrigerant problems won't affect you.

An EPA spokesperson says the department hopes to have a decision regarding R-22 production as quickly as possible.

For more on this story, watch 2NEWS Reporter Breanne Palmerini's report on 2NEWS at 10 p.m.