Free Compliance Tools
R-22 Leak Rate Calculator
Free EPA-compliant tool · Both calculation methods · Covers the 40 CFR Part 82 leak-repair rule
R-22 is the one major service refrigerant that does not answer to the 2026 AIM Act rule. Because it's an ozone-depleting HCFC, appliances containing only R-22 are exempt from 40 CFR Part 84 Subpart C under §84.106(a)(3)(i) — they follow the longstanding Section 608 leak-repair rule at 40 CFR 82.157 instead, which applies at 50 pounds of charge, not 15. The trigger rates are the same 10/20/30 percent, and this calculator applies them — but the applicability floor, the citations an inspector will check, and the paperwork all come from Part 82.
1,810
A1
0.055
Chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22)
Calculate Your R-22 Leak Rate
Equipment Setup
Typical range: 5–30 lbs (residential/light commercial), 50–500+ lbs (larger commercial and process systems)
Log Refrigerant Addition
Annualizing Method
rate = (lbs_added ÷ full_charge) × (365 ÷ D) × 100
Where D = days since previous addition (or 365 for the first tracked event). Projects a single addition over a full year.
R-22 leak rate (annualizing)
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ADD R-22 SERVICE EVENTS TO CALCULATE
Comfort Cooling · 10% EPA threshold
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of 125% threshold
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R-22 Service Events
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Enter an R-22 addition above to see your EPA-compliant leak rate calculation in real time.
Track R-22 Compliance Automatically
Stop calculating by hand. Ref LeakLog automates R-22 leak rate tracking, repair workflows, audit-ready reports, and team management — the same 30-day clocks and verification tests §82.157 requires.
Start Your 14-Day Free TrialR-22 Compliance Under Section 608 (40 CFR Part 82)
R-22 appliances are exempt from Subpart C: §84.106(a)(3)(i) excludes appliances containing solely an ozone-depleting substance as refrigerant
40 CFR 82.157 applies instead — to appliances with a full charge of 50 or more pounds of R-22 (as of April 10, 2020)
Same trigger rates as Subpart C: 10% comfort cooling, 20% commercial refrigeration, 30% industrial process (§82.157(c)(2))
Same 30-day repair clock (120 days if an industrial process shutdown is required), with initial and follow-up verification tests
The chronic-leaker rule applies here too: a ≥50-lb appliance that leaks 125% or more of its full charge in a calendar year must be reported to EPA by March 1 of the following year (§82.157(j))
Regulatory Status
Class II ozone-depleting substance (HCFC). U.S. production and import for servicing ended January 1, 2020 under the Montreal Protocol phaseout — the field runs on recovered and reclaimed supply. R-22 appliances are exempt from AIM Act Subpart C (40 CFR 84.106(a)(3)(i)) and follow the Section 608 leak-repair rule at 40 CFR 82.157 instead.
No new R-22 has entered the U.S. market since January 1, 2020. Existing systems remain legal to operate and service with recovered, recycled, or reclaimed refrigerant — which is exactly why leak repair matters on these units: every pound lost has to come back out of a shrinking, increasingly expensive reclaim pool.
Common Applications
- Older residential and light commercial AC (pre-2010 installs)
- Aging packaged rooftop units
- Walk-in coolers and freezers still on original equipment
- Older water chillers
- Legacy cold storage and process refrigeration
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the EPA 2026 15-lb rule apply to R-22 systems?
No. The 2026 rule (40 CFR Part 84, Subpart C) exempts appliances containing solely an ozone-depleting substance under §84.106(a)(3)(i), and R-22 is a class II ODS. R-22 appliances instead follow the Section 608 leak-repair rule at 40 CFR 82.157, which applies to appliances with a full charge of 50 pounds or more. The leak rate thresholds are the same — 10% comfort cooling, 20% commercial refrigeration, 30% industrial process — but the applicability floor and the governing citations are different.
What is the leak rate threshold for R-22 systems?
Under 40 CFR 82.157(c)(2): 20% for commercial refrigeration, 30% for industrial process refrigeration, and 10% for comfort cooling and other appliances with 50 or more pounds of charge. Exceeding the threshold triggers a repair deadline of 30 days (120 days if an industrial process shutdown is required), followed by initial and follow-up verification tests — the same workflow the 2026 rule requires for HFC systems.
My R-22 system holds between 15 and 50 pounds — which rule applies?
Neither federal leak-repair rule. It's below the 50-lb floor of 40 CFR 82.157, and it's exempt from Subpart C's 15-lb rule because it contains only an ozone-depleting substance. The venting prohibition, refrigerant recovery requirements, and Section 608 technician certification still fully apply, and some states impose their own tracking rules — but there is no federal leak-rate calculation obligation for that appliance.
Can I still buy R-22?
No new R-22 has been produced or imported for U.S. servicing since January 1, 2020. Service supply comes entirely from recovered, recycled, or reclaimed refrigerant, which is why R-22 prices are high and volatile. That economics is the practical reason to track leak rates on R-22 equipment even below the 50-lb regulatory floor: every leaked pound is replaced at reclaim-market prices.
What happens if I retrofit an R-22 system to R-407C or another HFC blend?
The regime flips. Once the appliance no longer contains an ozone-depleting substance, 40 CFR 82.157 stops applying — and the appliance falls under Subpart C if it holds 15 pounds or more, since HFC blends like R-407C have a GWP well above 53. That's a lower applicability floor than before: a 30-lb system that had no federal leak-repair obligation on R-22 acquires one the day it's converted. The charge added immediately after the retrofit is excluded from the leak-rate calculation, and the full charge must be redetermined for the new refrigerant.
Don't Calculate By Hand
Ref LeakLog automates R-22 leak rate tracking for your entire fleet — calculations, repair workflows, deadline reminders, and audit-ready PDF reports. R-22 appliances follow the same 30-day repair clocks and record duties — under 40 CFR Part 82 instead of the 2026 rule.
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