Wow, finally a topic I know something about. I do HVAC for a living. My two cents. R22 is being phased out yes... In 2020. R22 condensing units were stopped being manufactured this past year. Parts for the existing units will still be made for at least the next five to seven years. Another secret, R410a may not be the next long term refrigerant. It is already being spoken about like the HVAC betamax. My suggestion is to hold off on a new system for a couple of years. The tax credit isnt worth spit when your power company changes seasonal rates. Your system is freezing because it is low on refrigerant. This also causes the larger amp draw. The amp draw you mentioned is less than a full amp? Again nothing to lose sleep over. Tell your tech to pump the system down, pull the evap coil out, clean it, put it back in, put in a new filter dryer, pull a vacuum, and release the freon back into the system and bring it to superheat. Should cost you less than a hundred plus the dryer and maybe a couple pounds R22.
Thanks. I haven’t done refrigeration for years. Your advice to the poster is correct.
I’m in agreement. Forty plus years in HVAC going back to cast iron compressors. Low R-22 most common.