2025 Regulation Changes
Costs are Going Up!
Customers need to be aware of the transition from R410a to R454b refrigerants over the next few months in HVAC systems for several reasons.
What: Up to 20-25% increase on new HVAC systems for consumers.
Why: New refrigerants offer a lower Global Warming Potential (GWP), making systems more environmentally friendly.
- What: Up to 20-25% increase on new HVAC systems for consumers.
- Why: New refrigerants offer a lower Global Warming Potential (GWP), making systems more environmentally friendly.
Impact: Manufacturers are predicting up to a 25% price increase in air conditioners and heat pumps.
- Impact: Manufacturers are predicting up to a 25% price increase in air conditioners and heat pumps.
Safety: New refrigerants are slightly flammable, so new safeties will be required in the equipment and precautions when servicing it.
- Safety: New refrigerants are slightly flammable, so new safeties will be required in the equipment and precautions when servicing it.
Now that we have your attention, let’s back up and discuss exactly what is changing.
What is a Refrigerant?
Refrigerants are a key component in residential air conditioners and heat pumps, facilitating the transfer of heat to provide cooling or heating. Refrigerant cycles between a gas and liquid state, absorbing heat from the indoors as it evaporates and releasing the heat outdoors as it condenses. This process allows air conditioners to cool indoor air and heat pumps to warm it.
What is Changing?
Like everything else, change is inevitable in air conditioning and refrigeration. One such imminent change is the transition from R410a to R454b refrigerants, which is expected to have a significant impact on residential customers.
**The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has banned the manufacturing of systems that use R410-A in new air conditioners and heat pumps on January 1, 2025—that’s only months away.**
Why is the Refrigerant Change Happening?
The shift from R410a to R454b is primarily driven by environmental concerns. While effective as a refrigerant, R410a has a higher Global Warming Potential (GWP), contributing to climate change. As countries around the world seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, transitioning to refrigerants with lower GWPs has become a priority for our government agencies.
Differences in Refrigerant Characteristics and Their Impact
Apart from environmental considerations, the characteristics of these refrigerants also differ. R410a is non-flammable and non-toxic, making it relatively safe for residential use. In contrast, R454b is mildly flammable and requires careful handling.
However, it’s important to note that R454b has been designed to meet stringent safety standards, ensuring its suitability for residential applications. A refrigerant with similar characteristics is probably in your current refrigerator.
New HVAC equipment using R454b will require sensors that detect refrigerant leaks and shut down the unit upon leak detection to protect you and your home.
Equipment Compatibility
According to information from multiple manufacturers, existing air conditioning equipment designed for R410a will not be compatible with R454b components.
Customers looking to upgrade or replace their HVAC systems may need to invest in new components that are compatible with the new refrigerant.
How Will the Pricing of HVAC Units be Affected
The shift to R454b will impact pricing. Equipment manufacturers are predicting a 15-20% price increase on all equipment.
What About My Existing Air Conditioner?
R410a refrigerant and repair parts will still be available, so we will be able to keep units running. Parts for units under warranty should be available for the life of the manufacturer’s warranty—that’s at least 2034.
Consumer Planning and Options
As crazy as this may sound, the new R454b equipment was not even on the market July 1, 2024—less than six months before this change will go into effect. This whole change has come rapidly, and the manufacturers and contractors are still catching up. The production transition should be interesting, and we expect the next two years to be a little chaotic.
The impact/cost of this change will be felt when you replace your existing air conditioner. If you have an outdoor unit that is 8-10 years old (or more) and want to be proactive, you may want to consider replacing it with an R410a unit while the equipment is available and compatible with your existing indoor equipment.
We hope to have R410a air conditioners and heat pumps for the next year, but supplies will diminish. Once they are gone, you will have to replace at least the indoor coil to make your system compatible with the new refrigerant and incur whatever price increases have hit the market between now and then.