2025 HVAC Refrigerant Changes: A Homeowner’s Guide
Over the years, the HVAC industry has seen a lot of changes in the form of government mandates regarding the type of equipment and products that it can use. One change that’s receiving a great deal of attention is the new EPA refrigerant mandate. This mandate took effect on January 1, 2025. As a knowledgeable homeowner, it’s a good idea to understand what this mandate is and how it affects you personally.
What’s the EPA Mandate?
The EPA mandate for 2025 bans HVAC manufacturers from producing any HVAC products, like air conditioners and heat pumps, that utilize R410A refrigerant. In addition, HVAC installers may no longer install equipment that uses this outdated refrigerant. All new HVAC systems must utilize an A2L category of refrigerant, such as R32 or R454B.
Environmental Factors Driving Change
The main driving factor behind this mandate is minimizing the contribution that refrigerant has to global warming. The outdated R410A refrigerant has been shown to have a high global warming potential, which is thought to contribute to unintentional climate change. For this reason, the EPA has required HVAC manufacturers to develop and utilize more eco-friendly refrigerants in their systems.
A Look at New Refrigerants
The new class of A2L refrigerants includes R32 and R454B. R32 has a global warming potential of 675, which is significantly less than the 2,088 global warming potential of its predecessor, R410A. R32 refrigerant is great for providing more efficient heat transfer and requires less refrigerant charge. R454B has a global warming potential of only 466 and offers the same efficiency as R32 refrigerant.
What the Change Means for Homeowners?
As a homeowner, it’s important to stay up to date about changes in the HVAC industry, as they’ll impact servicing and eventual replacement of your existing heating or cooling system. These new refrigerant changes will affect you in a few different ways.
Costlier to Purchase
One of the biggest things to keep in mind is that newer systems utilizing one of the A2L refrigerants will cost more upfront than outdated systems using the R410A refrigerant. This extra cost is attributed to the input of utilizing new technology and redesigning both heat pumps and air conditioning systems to utilize one of the newer refrigerants. It’s very important to know that you may not retrofit an existing HVAC unit to use one of the newer A2L refrigerants. They use different technologies to function.
Higher Repair Costs
Another way this new refrigerant mandate will impact you is by increasing the cost of recharging your existing system’s refrigerant. While the production of R410A refrigerant is still allowed for another decade, the amount that can be produced each year will get smaller as time goes on. As the available supply decreases, the natural demand for the refrigerant will cause a spike in its price.
Is Upgrading Necessary?
One of the biggest concerns that many homeowners have once they learn about the new EPA mandate for 2025 is whether they must update their outdated HVAC system that uses R410A refrigerant. The short answer is that no, you don’t have to upgrade. You can continue to run your system until it fails. However, keep in mind that repairs are going to get more expensive as supplies of R410A refrigerant and system parts dwindle.
Benefits of Upgrading
While it’s not necessary to upgrade your existing HVAC system, you may want to consider doing so for several different reasons. One of the very first is that you want to be more eco-friendly. If you continue to rely on a system that uses the outdated R410A refrigerant, you are contributing more to global warming than if you were to use a newer system with one of the A2L refrigerants.
Another benefit of upgrading is you can take advantage of more energy-efficient system operation. Systems that use one of the newer A2L refrigerants are naturally more efficient due to their ability to transfer heat better than systems that use the old style R410A refrigerant. A more energy-efficient system can translate to lower utility bills for you. Some other key benefits of upgrading include tax incentives, energy rebates, a new system warranty, and increased home value.
Reliable HVAC Replacement Services
Greens Energy Services, Inc. offers reliable HVAC replacement services for the Orlando, FL area. We can also help with all your HVAC repair, installation, and maintenance needs. Call Greens Energy Services, Inc. today to book your next service appointment in Orlando.
