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• Can I still use freon 12 in my vehicle's air conditioner?
• What's involved if I choose to convert my car's air conditioner?
• How do I find out what type of refrigerant is being used in my car?
• Can a vehicle's air conditioning (AC) system be topped up with refrigerant because the AC is not cold enough?
• Is there a standard for the type of leak test that needs to be performed before a system can be tagged as not having a leak?
• Can a refrigerant be used during a test?
• Where do the leak test tags go?
• What happens if no leak is found?
• Where are the tags available for purchase?
• Must the mechanic evacuate the remaining refrigerant from the system if a leak is found in a vehicle's AC system?
• Can a garage be fined for leaving refrigerant in an AC system which it knows is leaking?
• What is the vehicle owner's liability for a leaking AC system?
• What rules and regulations govern the testing of containers used to store refrigerant evacuated from automotive ACs?
• To whom do I report illegal freon top-ups and suspicious servicing? To whom do I report non-certified AC repairmen?
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Can I still use freon 12 in my vehicle's air conditioner? 

No person shall refill an air-conditioning unit of a motor vehicle with any refrigerant containing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs including freon or R-12). This measure is a refill ban, not a use ban. This means that when refrigerant needs to be added to your system (usually because of a leak or a repair), you have to convert your air-conditioner to run on alternative, more ozone friendly refrigerant. Alternatively, you may be able to discontinue use or have your air conditioning system removed from your vehicle.

What's involved if I choose to convert my car's air conditioner? 

Conversion costs are likely to be between $120 to $600 depending on the car.

How do I find out what type of refrigerant is being used in my car? 

Vehicles manufactured before the end of 1995 may have air-conditioning units that contain a CFC-based (chlorofluorocarbon-based) refrigerant. A label under the hood or inside the driver's door should identify the refrigerant used.

Service Practices for Mobile Air Conditioners

Can a vehicle's air conditioning (AC) system be topped up with refrigerant because the AC is not cold enough? 

If your AC is running on R-12, you may not top up the system. If your AC is running on an HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) such as HFC-134a or other halocarbon you may top up if a leak test has been performed to confirm there is no leak in the system.  Once a leak test is performed, the system must be tagged with the results of the test, including:

1. the date of the test,
2. the name of the person who conducted the leak test,
3. the ODP number and expiry date appearing on the person’s ODP card,
4. the results of the test, and
5. if there is a leak in the equipment, a statement that no refrigerant shall be added to the equipment until the leak is repaired.

Is there a standard for the type of leak test that needs to be performed before a system can be tagged as not having a leak? 

Leak tests are to be performed in accordance with the practices set out in the Environmental Code of Practice for Elimination of Fluorocarbon Emissions from Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems (PDF).

Can a refrigerant be used during a test? 

Yes. Appropriately qualified people certified under s.34 of O. R.463/10 can use refrigerants while performing a leak test but they must follow the rules of the Society of Automobile Engineers (SAE) [Standard J 1628, Technician procedure for using electronic refrigerant leak detectors for service in mobile air conditioning systems and Standard J 1627, Rating criteria for electronic refrigerant leak detectors]. Copies can be purchased on the SAE Web site, by telephone at (724) 776-4841 or by faxing them at (724) 776-5760.

However, it is important to note that CFC-based refrigerants (e.g., R-12) cannot be used to refill mobile air conditioners.

Where do the leak test tags go? 

A new tag is to be attached to the AC system after each leak test. If all the leaks in the system are repaired, a new tag should be put on the system indicating that there are no leaks. The tag has to be visible to any mechanic who might be working on the system in the future. The tag can be placed on the inside of the driver’s side door frame or on any part of the AC system (compressor or hose). Old tags can then be removed. Old tags can be removed only if new tags are going to be placed on the system.

What happens if no leak is found? 

If no leak is found, then refrigerant may be added to the system after it has been tagged as having no leaks. However, it is important to note that CFC-based refrigerants (e.g., R-12) cannot be used to refill mobile air conditioners.

Where are the tags available for purchase? 

Tags can be purchased from most companies that sell business forms. Some associations have also developed tags that comply with the regulations. Tags must contain the appropriate information outlined in the regulation.

Must the mechanic evacuate the remaining refrigerant from the system if a leak is found in a vehicle's AC system? 

No. The garage may only extract the refrigerant which it may have injected into the system to perform the leak test. The owner of the vehicle owns the refrigerant and must decide when and where to repair the leak. A mechanic should not remove it without the permission of the vehicle owner.

If the refrigerant is removed without this permission, the vehicle owner may only recover that refrigerant if s/he produces a certified refrigerant container in which to transport the refrigerant. Alternatively, if the leak in the AC system is fixed and the refrigerant is non-ozone-depleting, the system can then be recharged with the refrigerant that was removed. Owners should be aware that no person shall refill an air-conditioning unit of a motor vehicle with any refrigerant containing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

Can a garage be fined for leaving refrigerant in an AC system which it knows is leaking? 

No. Once a garage has informed the owner of a vehicle that there is a leak in the AC system responsibility is transferred to the owner. Owners can decide to leave the repair shop with the car and any refrigerant that was in the system when it came in. Under the law, the owner is then knowingly discharging an ODS and will have to have the AC fixed before any more refrigerant can be added. Regardless, a tag must be placed on the car with the results of the test.

What is the vehicle owner's liability for a leaking AC system? 

Permitting the discharge of a refrigerant into the natural environment is illegal in Ontario. Once the owner of an AC system is made aware his/her system is leaking, the owner is then considered to be permitting the discharge of a refrigerant into the natural environment.

What rules and regulations govern the testing of containers used to store refrigerant evacuated from automotive ACs? 

Transport Canada regulates the containers in which refrigerant gases are stored according to the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) B339, s.24.2.4, s. 24.2.5 and s.24.2.9. Normal pressure vessels must be re-tested every ten years but since used refrigerants are corrosive, pressure vessels storing them must be tested every five years. Testing can be done at any Transport Canada approved testing facility. For more information, contact Transport Canada at (416) 973-9820.

To whom do I report illegal freon top-ups and suspicious servicing? To whom do I report non-certified AC repairmen? 

Any suspicious AC servicing should be reported to your district office of the Ministry of the Environment or the 24 hour Pollution Hotline at 1-866-MOE-TIPS (1-866-663-8477).