Upgrade to R-32 and R-454B – Act Now to Avoid Price Increases
January 1, 2025
HVAC Equipment Changes Again
Existing Equipment
Will Not Be Compatible
If you have replaced a coil/air handler, outdoor unit or furnace without replacing your entire system you need to call today to schedule an evaluation to see if you can upgrade the remainder of your system while equipment is still available. After January 1, 2025 no equipment using existing refrigerant will be produced. Many manufacturers have already begun to switch and R-410a equipment availability is limited. Yes this even applies to your gas furnace since changes in those are required to work with new refrigerants (built in refrigerant leak detection and emergency shut down sequence is required).
Why Are We Changing Refrigerants Again?
The Industry is Moving Forward: Why the Change to R-32 and R-454B?
The HVAC industry is transitioning once again, this time to more eco-friendly refrigerants: R-32 and R-454B. These changes are driven by global environmental regulations aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of older refrigerants like R-410A, which have a higher global warming potential (GWP).
- R-410A is being phased out due to its environmental impact.
- R-32 and R-454B are designed to be more efficient and eco-friendly.
- New refrigerants comply with stricter environmental regulations.
Existing Equipment Will Not Be Compatible
Your Current Equipment is Not Built for R-32 and R-454B
Unfortunately, older HVAC systems, especially those using R-410A, are not compatible with R-32 and R-454B. This means that your current system will need to be replaced to handle these new refrigerants.
- Systems using R-410A are incompatible with R-32 and R-454B.
- New refrigerants require specially designed components to function efficiently and safely.
- Continuing to use outdated refrigerants will become more costly as prices for R-410A rise.
Replace Now to Avoid Higher Costs Later
Why You Should Replace Now
If you’ve replaced any components—such as coils, condensing units, air handlers, or heat pumps—in the past few years, it’s critical to consider upgrading your the remainder of your system now. With the switch to R-32 and R-454B, partial replacements will no longer be compatible with new equipment.
Urgent Warning:
Delaying could mean having to replace the entire system down the line, which could be significantly more expensive, especially as prices are expected to rise in the near future due to increased demand and supply chain pressures.
The cost of waiting could be high. As the demand for new refrigerants and compatible equipment grows, so will prices. As we come to the end of production for R-410a equipment you need to act now while we can still upgrade the remainder of your system.
What About Getting R-410a In The Future?
There will be no issues getting R-410a in the future, just as there were no issues getting R-22 years after it’s phase out. Also with this transition the reductions in production of replacement refrigerant are not as aggressive as they were in the past.
