What to know about the 2025 transition to new refrigerants in the HVAC industry.
The hvac industry has seen sweeping federally mandated changes in the last 5 years. First it was the 9 speed ecm furnace mandate. Then came the SEER2 efficiency change for air conditioners and heat pumps. Both of these changes required manufacturers to come out with brand new models of all of their furnaces, air conditioners and heat pumps. This created a lot of confusion for contractors and consumers. Navigating covid-era supply issues and the rapid inflation that followed proved to be challenging for the contractor and frustrating for the consumer. Not to mention the endless cycle of inconsistency and incompetence brought forth by XCEL regarding rebates.Through the last year the dust settled and everyone found their groove. Customers knew what they were purchasing and contractors knew that what they were selling would be in stock.
And now, we get the most comprehensive change in the last 20 years. New refrigerant!
Our team at Mountain Breeze Heating & Air is fully prepared and trained to tackle this transition.
Here are some key points to know about the EPA mandated A2L refrigerant change for 2025.
What is happening?
This mandate requires all air conditioners and heat pumps to be produced with new refrigerants in 2025. Some brands, like Amana and Goodman, are going with R32 refrigerant. Some, like Bosch or Carrier, are going with R454B refrigerant. Manufacturers are no longer allowed to produce units with r410a refrigerant, which has been the standard since the last change around 2006.
Why?
Efficiency. The previous change from R22 refrigerant to R410a refrigerant was all about the ozone. R22 was proven to be bad for the ozone, so it was outlawed. It is no longer produced and has been phased out. R410a wasn’t bad for the ozone, but it actually wasn’t quite as energy efficient. Enter A2L refrigerants. The EPA mandated a change to these R32 and r454B refrigerants because they are not bad for the ozone and also are more energy efficient. You’ll see things like lower GWP, or global warming potential. It just means that it takes less energy to produce the same amount of output.
What is the downside?
Well, the new refrigerants are flammable. That is what the term “A2L” indicates. This is likely a scary thing for consumers, but if you look past that initial shock term, it’s actually not that dangerous. A quick google search will show you that A2L refrigerants have extremely low flammability. Something similar to candle wax. Some fears people have are that they will have flammable gas going into their house. Then they realize they already have that in the very flammable natural gas that is in their house. Also, the oil that is in your old air conditioner.. it has a low flammability already. Still, it is something to take seriously and get trained on.
Are there protections in place?
Absolutely. Our fully trained crew at Mountain Breeze Heating & Air knows the ins and outs of the process of using the new refrigerants. We always have fire extinguishers on site. We have the new gadgets and gauges for proper installation and service. And there are safety measures built into the new equipment. We know how to install the new equipment and have gotten a head start. We started installing the new equipment as early as September 2024.
Can I still service my R410a unit?
Yes! R410a isn’t being phased out of production like R22 was. It will still be available for your current equipment for at least the next 20 years. It’s just that new equipment wil not be made with this refrigerant.
If I change out my air conditioner or heat pump, do I have to change out my furnace?
No! The new equipment does have built in protections in both the air conditioner/heat pump and furnaces. What happens here is if the equipment senses a refrigerant leak, it will activate the fan in the furnace. The way these refrigerants work, if there is a lot of airflow coming through, the refrigerant won’t burn. Think of it like blowing out a candle. And if you have an older furnace, there is a retrofit kit that we can add to the system to achieve the same end.
That all said, with the 1/2 price furnace with AC discount we offer, we usually price our full furnace and AC systems less than what our competitors offer for just an AC. And if you’re looking for a heat pump, we are fully up to date on federal, state and xcel rebates. So book an appointment for a quote with us and know that you are getting the best price with the best equipment with the best trained team in the Denver Metro and Front Range area. We service Longmont down to Castle Rock.