Warning! A new Refrigerant in 2025 will make Heat Pumps & Air Conditioners More Expensive

In 2020 the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act gave the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) like R410A, that is now used in all residential heat pumps and air conditioners being manufactured.

To meet their aggressive goals, they are outlawing the manufacture of all R410A heating and cooling equipment after 12/31/24 and beginning 1/1/25 all HVAC equipment will need to use either a new R454B or R32 refrigerant.

New Equipment & Installation Changes:

• How is the equipment different?

  – Both R454B and R32 are mildly flammable, unlike R410A, and will need new components to deal with this. The biggest change will be the addition of a Refrigerant Detection System (RDS) that will have sensor and activation valve to release the refrigerant in case of heat or fire.  This will add costs to the base price.

• What else is different?

  – New refrigerant means new line-sets between the indoor coil or air handler and outdoor units. This will require new tooling and training for all technicians.  Setting the new RDS system will take longer during unit fire-off also.

• Which refrigerant will Evergreen use?

  – Evergreen is a Trane Comfort Specialist and Mitsubishi Diamond Dealer. Both companies will use R454B.  That said our technicians will be capable of working on systems that have both refrigerants.

• What will all this cost?

  – The new equipment will be more expensive, and there will be a higher amount of labor needed to install these units. Call the office to find out the savings of putting in an R410A system before the deadline.

What about my Existing R410A System?:

• Disposition of R410A Refrigerant

  – While there will be a major phasedown of R410A over the next few years, and historical supply-and-demand principles during a phasedown means significant price increases over time. Short term (the next five years) there should be R410A in stock for your existing system, albeit more spendy.    

• Recent R410A Installations

  – If you have an R410A system that is under eight (8) years old, has had annual maintenance and historically little trouble, you should be fine for a while. If your unit has had issues or is older, please give us a call!

If you have an old R22 system (pre-R410A, usually older than 2010), or even a R410A older unit, you really need to consider this as a factor in your timing.  In 2025 it will be more expensive to replace your old HVAC heat pump or air conditioning unit.

Our Energy Consultant, John, can help you out knowing the price differential.