Originally Posted by
atoreson
I suppose it all boils down to supply and demand.
A known fact is that the EPA is ratcheting down the amount that can be manufactured, faster than originally anticipated so that does significantly limit the supply.
From there, it should depend on how soon people convert from R-22, which will be ultimately dictated by money. The cost to maintain a current R-22 system, versus the cost to convert.
I don't think that the loophole was intentional. I just think that lawmakers aren't that knowledgeable when it comes to ACR. I suppose what I am getting at, is this. How could you write a law, to limit the sale of R-22 equipment?
What makes a certain piece of equipment, R-22 equipment? There are certain traits that you must have for an R-22 system but that is also very similar to other refrigerants as well.
With the right to free of speech in the bill of rights, I do not see how the govt can restrict the sale of DRY R-22 equipment.
Yes that dry equipment works with R-22 but it also works with other refrigerants as well. A company is also free to put almost anything they want as well, on their packaging label.
The only way to eliminate R-22 is to eliminate it's production and that is what the EPA has now realized... IE, why they are clamping down on production, even faster than originally intended.
Current R-22 equipment will last a long while and I think that we would have to see $800.00 to $1,000.00 a 30lb jug, before it forces people to prematurely convert to another refrigerant.
I also feel that that day will come because the EPA has significantly ratcheted up their plans to cut production. I estimate that it will take 2 to 4 years to fully convert so we should see sky high R-22 pricing for some time.
Once everyone converts, no one will want it anymore and the price will plummet.
Just my two cents.
Tony
The part about commerce... I think if the lawyer types at the EPA had wanted to... they could have figured out some tricky legal language (quick law) to stop DRY units.
I chose to not do much in DRY units, simply because 10 years down the road I will have to either sell juice without much profit or sell it for a HUGE amount. Better to not back my customers into that corner. Besides; an AC/coil using 410 is cheaper (even if one does not figure in the juice) than a DRY unit and a coil. And we know a 10 SEER coil on a 13 SEER AC is not gonna work well, even with a TXV.
I do think I will put in a stock of 22 when supply/demand drops the price in the dead of winter (or the Christmas holidays). No telling what will happen in years to come. Just wish I had bought more at $129.95 last winter.
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