New HVAC Refrigerant in 2025: Significant Changes Are on the Horizon for HVAC Coolants.

Big changes are on the way for the heating and cooling industry! Cooling systems moving from R-410a to newer refrigerants like R-454B refrigerant and R-32 refrigerant will be coming in 2025. These new coolants are designed to be more beneficial to the environment and satisfy revised regulations about global warming. But what does that mean for your present HVAC system and upcoming services?

This change will minimize the environmental impact of our air conditioning systems. Beginning in 2025, new AC systems will use new class of refrigerants that more closely match with climate goals. If you're contemplating getting an AC replacement soon, this is the ideal time to investigate how these updates can influence your home's comfort.

Why Are They Phasing Out R-410a for New HVAC Refrigerant?

For a long time, R-410a was the preferred refrigerant for residential air conditioners because of its efficiency. But analysis showed that R-410a still affects global warming. In response, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established an initiative back in 2021. The industry will gradually phase out R-410a to replace it with refrigerants that are more environmentally friendly.

The HVAC industry has implemented changes like this before. When the industry moved away from using R-22 (commonly called Freon) to R-410a, homeowners like you had to follow suit. And similarly, this transition will influence how systems are constructed as well as the optimal methods for HVAC maintenance. Both property owners and HVAC technicians should get ready for these new refrigerants if they wish to keep experiencing the most reliable, most economical cooling possible.

New HVAC Refrigerants Replacing R-410a?

The upcoming refrigerants fall under the new "A2L" classification and contain the newest R-454B refrigerant and R-32 refrigerant coolants. They're designed to deliver the same effective cooling while greatly lowering their global warming potential (GWP) compared to R-410a.

R-454B refrigerant is anticipated to be particularly useful due to its GWP being approximately 78% less than R-410a. While R-454B refrigerant is technically more flammable than R-410a, updates to system manufacturing and maintenance practices will ensure servicing is just as safe to perform. Additionally, modern cooling systems using R-454B refrigerant are considerably more energy efficient, resulting in considerable savings on energy bills over time, especially if you maintain your system with routine HVAC maintenance.

This transition isn't only about replacing the refrigerant—it impacts the whole HVAC system because the properties of R-454B refrigerant make it incompatible with older systems. Ultimately, every home and business using R-410a will be required to upgrade to one of the new systems.

R-410a Replacement: What Should I Consider in Order to Change to New HVAC Refrigerants?

Switching to the new refrigerants will not be as straightforward as swapping out the new coolants with what's used in your home's HVAC system. That's because the different properties of R-454B refrigerant and R-32 refrigerant mean you can't use the new refrigerants in a system designed to use R-410a.  But don't be concerned—you can keep using your current R-410a system for now. Just be aware that as time goes on, the expense of repairs and tune-ups will increase as R-410a becomes harder to find.

Planning ahead is the best way to stay on top of things. If your AC system is currently getting old, this is the ideal time to think about investing in a newer model that uses the new R-454B refrigerant. Plus, the staff here at Aggressive Mechanical can support you with upgrading with flexible options for HVAC replacement financing.

Which Refrigerant Is in My AC System?

Uncertain which refrigerant your AC system utilizes? In general, you can easily find this information by inspecting the label on your outdoor unit. This label displays the type of refrigerant, the model number and various other details about your cooling system.

But if you can't read the label or don't have your user manual, don't stress! You can always connect with one of the professional technicians at Aggressive Mechanical to assist you in identifying the refrigerant. Get all the info you need by giving us a call at 732-806-5536.