Local

Cost of freon gives “sticker shock” for HVAC users

If it’s been 10 or 20 years since you’ve repaired or replaced your HVAC system, experts tell us you could be in for an expensive surprise.

The sticker shock is definitely real,” said Cecily Bursey of Clayton, “it’s too expensive and more than you can bear at one time.”

Repairs are costly because the price of freon, or R22, has skyrocketed 300 percent, according to George Rodriguez with Stevenson Service Experts in Beavercreek.

“R22 refrigerant prices keep going up year after year because it is no longer in production,” said Rodriguez, “it was causing issues for the environment and the ozone.”

The EPA has prohibited freon production by 2020.

In the meantime, adding freon to your old system can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars, depending on the size of your unit.

“The next shock is the cost of having to upgrade your equipment,” said Rodriguez.

The price of a new system on average is about $3,000 to $5,000 due to technology upgrades and efficiency standards.

Homeowners can save money and ward off costly repairs by having their system inspected and cleaned yearly, and by changing filters on schedule.

A new HVAC system can be costly, but it may pay for itself in the long run.

New appliance efficiency standards have saved consumers $500 billion since 2008, according to the Consumer Federation of America.

0
Comments on this article