Now is the Time!

To summarize before we start: Starting in 2025, R410A Air Conditioners are no longer allowed to be produced. R-410A will still be available for existing equipment for some time (as was the one before it, R-22 which is still available, just expensive). Some use R-32 (what the rest of the world moved to) and some will use R-454B (local to the USA mostly), which further complicates our industry. Both are fine refrigerants in how they act but the new equipment will be more expensive, with manufacturers saying between 5% to 25% increases. If there is enough refrigerant in the system, these new refrigerants require leak detectors in the duct work because "technically" it's flammable (but not of any concern). Having to add these sensors increase the cost of the job. If you were thinking of upgrading your AC, do it before 2025 and save some money! Many manufacturers have been making the new models to have them ready BEFORE 2025 changeover, and we are running into dwindling stocks of some high demand models.

R-410A ACs cannot be produced after 1/1/2025

As part of our transition to a new refrigerant that has less GWP (Global Warming Potential), as of January 1st 2025 manufacturers will not be allowed to produce R-410A Air Conditioners. These Air Conditioners have been the primary refrigerant choice since the early 2000's. The refrigerant that came before it, R-22 went through this in 2010. This does NOT mean that the refrigerant is going away. While R-22 units went away in 2010, R-22 was still being produced up to 2020. There is still a vast amount of R-22 available. Contractors remove the refrigerant they pull from old units to recyclers that purify it and resell. While R-410A will eventually be unavailable, it is not expected to be for quite a long time.

Manufacturers could not agree on a replacement.

Unlike all prior refrigerant transitions, this time, the manufacturers could not all agree on what one to go with. There is R-32 and R-454B. Both will get the job done just fine. Some companies will be producing units with R-32 and some will be producing units with R-454B. Both of these refrigerants are "slightly flammable" (but not of any concern). This means that in most installations it will require a refrigerant leak detection circuit if a leak happens in your duct work. All of this is going to add to the cost of units installed.

Why upgrade before 2025?

To put it simply, cost. Manufacturers have already told us that new units are going to be more expensive. Mix that with our industry needing to buy more equipment to handle the two new refrigerants... now carrying 4 refrigerants on our trucks (R22, R410, R32, R454B). The new units requiring additional safety controls in most cases, and most importantly, R-410A is a good refrigerant. It's been around, we know what it does, it's in ample supply and affordable. The entire rollout of new units for 2025 have been almost entirely unorganized. While we are waiting for information and preparing the best we can, it seems like nobody is prepared for this transition.

Our team has worked with multiple manufacturers to make sure we have a steady supply of R-410A Air Conditioners to save our customers some money!

Nobody seems to be ready...

We are all about progress and trying to move to things that make sense long-term (hense our investment in solar). The move to a new refrigerant is fine, but with the pandemic messing with so many things, the companies were not ready nor were regulatory bodies. This should have been adjusted back again, and even had a transition year to allow companies to cycle out stock smoother. While the refrigerants are mostly identical, we prefer R-32 for the following reasons:

• It's a pure refrigerant, which means you cannot patent it, or do other things that drive up costs, like paying license fees.
• Any company can produce R-32, which should continue to keep R-32 affordable for customers who would need it in the future.
• Better capacity in colder temperatures (which is great news for heat pumps).
• R-32 is the standard chosen by the world. R-454B is a blend of 68.9% R-32, and remainder is R-1234yf.
• R-32 is already in over 280 million devices. It's been around since 2012.

Check out this page: https://www.r32reasons.com/32-reasons (it shows the pros of R-32)