Can R-22 be used?

R-22 can still be used in certain limited circumstances, but its use is heavily restricted and being phased out. In developed countries like the United States, Canada, and EU, it is illegal to produce or import virgin R-22 for new equipment since January 1, 2020, and illegal to manufacture new air conditioning equipment designed for R-22. However, it is still legal to use reclaimed and recycled R-22 to service existing equipment that already contains R-22, provided the technician is EPA Section 608 certified and recovers refrigerant properly without venting. You cannot legally use R-22 to charge a system designed for another refrigerant like R-410A, and you cannot top up a leaking system without repairing leaks above certain thresholds under EPA regulations. In many developing countries with later phase-out schedules, R-22 can still be used more broadly until final phase-out around 2030. For homeowners, using R-22 means high cost and eventual need to replace system, as supplies dwindle. So yes, R-22 can be used to service old existing systems with reclaimed gas, but cannot be used in new systems and its use is declining toward zero.