R-22 production ended in 2020, but reclaimed R-22 is still available for servicing existing systems. However, the price has skyrocketed — a full R-22 recharge now costs $400-$800+ compared to $150-$300 for R-410A. If your system needs frequent R-22 top-offs, replacement is the smarter financial decision.
Check the data plate on your outdoor AC unit — it lists the refrigerant type. Systems manufactured before 2010 likely use R-22. Systems from 2010-2024 use R-410A. Newer systems may use R-32. If you're not sure, call us and we'll check.
If your R-22 system is working well and doesn't need refrigerant, you can keep using it. But if it needs a major repair or a recharge, the cost of R-22 plus the repair often exceeds half the cost of a new system. At that point, replacement with a modern R-410A or R-32 system makes more financial sense.
If you're dealing with this issue in the Denver Metro area, the most important thing is getting a proper diagnosis from a NATE-certified technician who understands Colorado's altitude. At 5,000+ feet, HVAC systems behave differently than at sea level — refrigerant pressures, combustion efficiency, and airflow all change with elevation. A technician who doesn't account for altitude can misdiagnose the problem entirely. On Time Heat & Air has been serving the Front Range since 2013 with same-day service, upfront pricing, and no overtime fees for emergency calls. Call (720) 527-0668 for a diagnosis.
Colorado's climate creates unique HVAC challenges that homeowners in other states don't face. Our dry air, intense UV exposure, extreme temperature swings (it's not unusual to see 60°F days followed by 20°F nights), and hail storms all take a toll on heating and cooling equipment. Systems here work harder and fail in different ways than identical systems at sea level.
Brighton, where we're based, sits at 4,984 feet. Denver is at 5,280 feet. Aurora, Lakewood, Arvada, Westminster — they're all above 5,000 feet. That altitude affects everything from gas pressure in your furnace to refrigerant charge in your AC to the amount of air your blower motor needs to move. Every system we install or repair is calibrated specifically for Front Range conditions.
We're licensed in 8 Colorado counties with active, verifiable license numbers displayed on our website. Our technicians are NATE certified — the highest certification in the HVAC industry. And we've maintained a 5.0 Google rating across 70+ reviews because we show up on time, diagnose honestly, price upfront, and fix it right the first time.
NATE Certified · Licensed in 8 Counties · Same-Day Service