There’s no doubt that the HVAC industry is constantly evolving every single year. As new information comes to light, the industry makes necessary adjustments for the safety of everyone. One of the more recent changes is the government’s mandatory R410A refrigerant phase-out.
What Is Refrigerant?
Before we dive into what this phase-out means, it’s important to first understand what refrigerant is and how it is used. Refrigerant is a substance inside of air conditioning systems and heat pumps. It’s responsible for absorbing heat energy and transferring it from one location to the next. For example, during the summertime, the refrigerant in your air conditioning system will absorb heat from inside your home and transport it to the air outside.
What Is R410A Refrigerant?
R410A refrigerant has been the standard refrigerant used in air conditioning systems and heat pumps since 2010. This particular refrigerant replaced the old R22 refrigerant, which was widely known to contribute to a depletion of the ozone layer. By depleting this necessary atmospheric layer, more sunlight is allowed to penetrate the earth, leading to the many issues associated with global warming.
Why Is There a Phase-Out for R410A?
While it’s certainly been determined that R410A refrigerant is much better than using R22 refrigerant in HVAC systems, it comes along with some problems of its own. One of the most notable problems that this type of refrigerant has is that it’s under very high pressure. Whenever there is a leak in one of your refrigerant lines or even one of your HVAC technicians is performing maintenance on your system, its high pressure allows a lot of refrigerant to escape in a very short amount of time.
The government’s main concern is that too much refrigerant is leaking out during normal maintenance and repair work of these HVAC systems. R410A is classified as an HFC, which is known to have a high global warming potential. All HFC products are starting to be banned around the globe due to their harmful nature.
What’s Replacing R410A?
All HVAC systems sold in the United States after January 1, 2025, must be using one of the newer AL2 refrigerants. Some of the most popular refrigerants in this category are R454B and R32. These refrigerants are proven to have a lower global warming potential and zero ozone depletion potential. This makes them a super sustainable option moving forward for all home and industrial HVAC systems.
Do You Need to Upgrade?
Unless you’ve recently purchased a new air conditioning system or heat pump for your home, it’s highly likely that your current system uses the old R410A refrigerant. It’s very important to note that homeowners are not mandated to upgrade their old HVAC systems. You can continue to use your system without a problem until it reaches the end of its lifespan.
What is key to keep in mind is that the production of R410A refrigerant will be scaled back over the coming years. This means that when it’s necessary to add new refrigerant to your existing HVAC system, it may be harder to find and costlier to purchase as the years go by. Currently, the government’s phase-out plan for R410A refrigerant goes through 2036. This means that you’ll still be able to find the refrigerant up through this point for AC repairs and maintenance on outdated systems.
Should You Upgrade?
Upgrading to a new air conditioning system or heat pump that uses one of the newer AL2 refrigerants is a good idea for those who are more concerned about their household’s carbon footprint. When you eliminate your old system that uses R410A refrigerant, you can be assured that you’re not contributing as much to global warming when you run your new HVAC system.
However, it’s crucial to realize that newer systems that offer one of the newer AL2 refrigerants are going to be more expensive to purchase. This comes down to the fact that newer systems had to be redesigned to work off the newer refrigerants. Many of these newer systems are mandated to come with integrated safety sensors and valves to detect refrigerant leakage and automatically shut off its supply.
Reliable HVAC Service
Totally Cool Heating & Air offers reliable HVAC service for the Austin, TX community. We can assist with all your heating, air conditioning, indoor air quality, commercial, heat pump, attic insulation, solar window screen, duct sealing, and duct replacement needs. Simply call us today to book your next service consultation with one of our helpful HVAC technicians.
