Upcoming Refrigerant Changes: What Does It Mean for Equipment & Costs?

The American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act of 2020, which laid out a five-year timeline for replacing R-410A with refrigerants with lower Global Warming Potential (GWP), is finally seeing its purpose fulfilled: As of January 2025, manufacturers may no longer build air conditioning systems using R-410A refrigerant. 

Instead, all new systems moving forward must use A2L refrigerants, such as R-454B and R-32. These new refrigerants have less than half (and in some cases, one-quarter) of the GWP of R-410A. 

Unfortunately, systems designed around R-410A cannot use A2L refrigerants, so you may wonder what that means for you as a consumer. Here’s everything you need to know.

Replacement vs. Maintenance

You might be ready to call an HVAC company in Jupiter, Florida, for a new AC unit, but your old system may still have life left in it. The option you should choose depends on when you want to spend the cost of replacement.

Cheaper Short-Term Solution: Maintain Your Existing System

If your HVAC system is only a year or two old, it still likely has a decade of life left. And though R-410A is no longer made, there are still large supplies in abundance whose prices won’t rise for a while. Additionally, manufacturers will continue to support older systems with parts and services. 

You will have to change over eventually, and once your R-410A system breaks, it will have to be completely replaced.

Pricier Long-Term Solution: Install a New System

The good news is that R-32 and other A2Ls are more efficient than R-410A, which means AC units need less of it to provide the same amount of cooling. A2L systems also tend to be simpler in design, with fewer parts to break or wear out, so aside from the upfront cost of installing a new system, they can be cheaper to maintain.

Can You Install an Older R-410A System?

New R-410A HVAC systems were produced through 2024. If you want to call up and have a reputable HVAC company in Jupiter install one, you would have had to purchase it before the end of 2024. 

Get Expert Replacement or Repair From Arctic Fox Cooling, Your HVAC Company in Jupiter

Whether you choose to keep an old system going or make the switch to a new one, Arctic Fox Cooling will help you maintain it! We ensure compliance with new regulations and have the training and expertise necessary to handle the latest wave of refrigerants. No matter what you decide, contact Arctic Fox Cooling to keep you cool!