How the new Air Conditioning R454b Refrigerant will affect You and Your Home
If you’re in the market for a new air conditioning system or been experiencing service issues with your current air conditioning system, you may have heard discussions regarding refrigerant changes,
particularly regarding R410-A, also known as Puron. These refrigerant changes have created uncertainty and confusion regarding whether to replace air conditioning equipment now or to wait for further
refrigerant changes. The goal of this article is to provide a basic background on the newer refrigerant change and to also add our perspective on this common dilemma amongst homeowners with air
conditioning in their home. History: R-410A is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerant that has been widely used in residential and commercial air conditioning for over 2 decades. It
replaced R-22, also known as Freon, which was phased out due to its ozone-depleting properties. R-22 is a hydrochlorofluorocarbon refrigerant (HCFC) that when heated by the sun releases chlorine. The
chlorine atoms are found to bound with ozone and break it down. The plan to phase out R-22 and replace it with R410-A began in 1995 when the United Nations created the Montreal Protocol. This new act
created a long-term phaseout plan of R-22. In 2010, the U.S. banned the sale of new air conditioning equipment that uses R-22. In 2015, production of R-22 was dramatically cut. Finally, in 2020, R-22
was completely banned in the U.S.. In 2016, the Montreal Protocol was amended with the UN Montreal Protocol Kigali Amendment which set standards for use of HFCs such as R-410A. This was
due to new discoveries that founded HFCs to have a high Global Warming Potential (GWP). The act is said to help avoid a 0.5 degree celsius global temperature rise by 2100. The goal of this act was to
present a timeline to change the air conditioning industry to a non-HFC environment by Jan 1st, 2025. R-410A equipment will no longer be produced on January 1st 2025 and the production of R-410A will
stop at the end of 2036 and be phased down up to that point. Consumers and contractors are hashing out the impact to the air conditioning industry, the rest of this article will explain the facts and
our perspective and advice to homeowners. The new refrigerant expected to be widely used by manufacturers is R454b. There is no doubt this change will cause the cost of air conditioning
systems to go up for homeowners. Manufacturers are expecting a 15-20% increase in the cost on all new R454b refrigerant equipment. R454b offers lower Global Warming Potential (GWP). Apart from
the positive impact on the environment, characteristics of this refrigerant differs from R-22 and R-410A. R454b is known to be mildly flammable and requires more cautious handling. New air
conditioning systems will require sensors to detect refrigerant leaks and shut down the unit and turn on the furnace blower to help protect you and your home. It is well known that R454b is
widely tested and is safe for your home. It is semi flammable, but is known to have the same flammability as olive oil. R454b systems will require less refrigerant and also the refrigerant is
known to have 50% less Global Warming Potential (GWP) than R410-A. We here at Pro Comfort Hvac Inc have been working diligently to ensure our staff is trained to the highest level to handle this
change in the industry and deliver the best and safest service to our customers. We have been investing in training and tools that will put our staff and customers in the best possible position.
This change is quite different from the prior change from R-22 to R-410A. Before R-410A became the chief refrigerant, equipment utilizing it was produced for 18 years. New R454b equipment was
first on the market July 1st, 2024. This is less than 6 months before the shift will officially take place. Additionally, R454b is known to be a more expensive refrigerant than R-410A, even with the
planned phase down. The familiarity of the refrigerant and equipment to both manufacturers and contractors alike is not comparable to the previous refrigerant change. The sheer speed of this change
has not allowed manufacturers to best prepare themselves for this transition. That is why it is understandable some homeowners would consider replacing with R-410A systems while available if you’re
considering a system change in the near future. This is due to the decreased cost, and increased experience contractors and manufacturers have with this refrigerant and how it acts within a
system. As previously said, we here at Pro Comfort Hvac Inc are investing in our employees and tools, making sure our technicians will be highly prepared for this change and helping
you, the homeowner, with your system no matter the refrigerant. We are very excited for changes in our industry that will overall help our environment. We do predict we will have R-410A equipment for
the next year and will have access to the refrigerant until 2036; although, it will become increasingly limited as production is phased out. However, we are also offering discounts on current R-410A
equipment to best set up our customers for reliable home comfort. Please call us at 1-800-413-7920 if you have any further questions on this change or would like to set up a no-charge estimate
in your home. We have been happily serving Los Angeles and Ventura Counties for over 25 years!
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