What Do 2025 Freon Changes Mean For New AC Units?

As new laws and regulations continue to change the HVAC industry, many are wondering about the new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandate that will eliminate the use of R-410A in HVAC equipment in 2025. This mandate is leaving people with many questions- which is why we are here to explore the key concerns regarding phasing out R-410A in 2025. Even if you are not in the HVAC industry, it is important to understand and prepare for these changes. 

Which Freon Will Be Phased Out Next Year? 
All high global warming potential (GWP) HFC refrigerants will be phased out next year, the main freon being  R410-A. This freon has been available since 1995 and replaced R-22 as the main refrigerant used in air conditioners in the United States. Unfortunately, R410-A has been found to contribute to climate change more than other available refrigerants, leading to its phase-out. This phaseout began in September 2021 as announced by the EPA. 

Will R410-A Get More Expensive Next Year? 
So- the next question is are they no longer making R410a? Will this make it more expensive? 

R-410A refrigerant will still be produced, but with decreases in production each year. As R-410A becomes more scarce, it will become much more expensive to repair these units. Even though they will still produce this freon, R-410A will be banned in new equipment starting January 2025. We saw this happen before with R22! 

Will R22 Freon Be Phased Out In 2025? 
R22 phaseout began in 2014 and stopped producing completely on January 1st, 2020. The only R22 that you may be able to find was either recycled or produced before this ban- and is both extremely hard to find and expensive. This is what we are expecting to see with R410-A. 

What Will Happen With R22/R410-A AC Units With The New Freon?
The question remains, what happens with older air conditioners or heating units? You can’t switch refrigerants because of different chemical properties and pressure. Unfortunately, the only way to switch your current system designed for R22/R410-A to a newer freon is costly. 

Multiple components will need to be replaced, such as the compressor, condenser, evaporator, and tubing. Maintenance of these AC units becomes extremely important- catching refrigerant leaks and ensuring that your AC is running optimally can help protect you from paying these high costs immediately. 

If you are looking to purchase a new air conditioning unit, ensure that you are installing a newer AC unit that uses the new refrigerants and not R410-A as installing these units will be banned by 2025. This can protect you against costly repairs and trying to find freon that is no longer being produced. 

Evaluating R-410A Replacements
With R-410A being phased out, what is the new freon in 2025? R410-A will be replaced by A2L refrigerants that have lower global warming potential. In addition to being better for the environment, A2L HVAC refrigerants tend to have higher energy efficiency. The main replacements are likely to be R-32 and R-454B, but there are four other refrigerants that are approved by the EPA.

Goodman Freon
Goodman and its subsidiaries are the only brand that will be using a different kind of freon that they will be manufacturing themselves. This could be an issue, as they will be the only one making it, vulnerable to unforeseen circumstances and manufacturing or distribution problems (like we saw throughout the pandemic). Other companies seem to be following suit, but it may be best to stick to a reliable A2L freon for cost and maintenance reasons. This way, you will almost always have access to the freon that your HVAC system needs. 

Make Sure You Are Ready
We told you that this was important to understand for homeowners, too! Although this refrigerant type isn’t just going to disappear, it is important to think about if you have an older air conditioner/heat pump system, or are looking to purchase a new one. As the R-410A phaseout continues and becomes more expensive, it may be time to trade in your old air conditioning unit for a newer one. 

Remember, if your HVAC system is running on R22 or R410-A, and you are not ready for a new unit, maintenance is extremely important to prevent and catch any refrigerant leaks. 

Green ID AZ is here to help. We understand that this change can be confusing, and we want to ensure that our customers make informed decisions before purchasing a new unit. Nobody wants to make such a huge investment in something when maintenance and replacement parts are being phased out. 

Feel free to call us with any questions or concerns that you may have, and we can help you figure out if it is time to switch to an A2L unit. Reach out to us at (602) 887-4686.

​
​