Nearly immediately after R-410A started to be used in HVAC equipment all over the United States, manufacturers and governmental organizations started to realize how bad it was for the environment. R-410A had a higher GWP than R-22, as well as being five times more than R-32 and three times greater than R-454B.
Just to be clear, the term “environmentally friendly” is misleading. No refrigerant that is “friendly” to the environment is currently being utilized anywhere in the globe, as far as we know. Since no refrigerant that escapes into the atmosphere is good for or friendly to the environment, it is more a question of degrees (to what degree is this or that refrigerant causing harm).
Why not choose a refrigerant that is less likely to hasten the earth’s warming by utilizing a more environmentally friendly refrigerant? We are all aware that the planet is warming.
Myths Regarding the Phase Out of R-410A
Overnight, the phase-out will take place.
The initial deadline for the phase-out of R-410A equipment was January 1, 2023, however, for a variety of reasons, that deadline won’t be met. The target appears to be a prohibition on any refrigerant with a GWP greater than 750 by 2025 for the majority of HVAC uses (apart from VRF). This would not include machinery used in manufacturing that uses R-410A (GWP of 2088). The government is taking its time with its elimination, just like it did with the phaseout of R-22, to prevent sharp increases in expenses. Prior to the complete manufacturing and import ban in 2020, the price of R-22 remained largely stable.
Price of R-410A Will Rise
It will cost more, but if it increases dramatically, it probably won’t be due to the phase-out by itself. The majority of the anticipated price hikes for R-410A will likely result from the same inflationary pressures that many other items are already facing.
Because metal prices have increased, the metal containers that were once used to store refrigerant are now more expensive.
Because of the global labor shortage, the amount of labor required to produce the containers and the refrigerant has increased.
Although some R410A is produced in the US, the majority of it comes from… you guessed it—China. The price of shipping the refrigerant across the Pacific Ocean has lately increased. Costs for that container ship carrying all those jugs of R410A have recently quadrupled; let’s hope prices will soon decline!
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To avoid bans, I will need to replace my equipment.
Undoubtedly not. Long after the new 410A system’s anticipated lifespan, we will still be able to fix your systems. The AIM Act (Dec. 27, 2020) established a phase-down timetable for R410A that lasts long into 2037, and since the average life of an air conditioner is between 10 and 15 years, the system you purchased this year will be able to be repaired for many years to come.
What Will Take R-410A’s Place?
Starting in 2023, R-32 and R-454B refrigerants will start to replace R410A in HVAC systems used in the United States. What you should know about R-32 and R-454B is as follows:
- R-32
- Zero loss of ozone
- HFC 410A’s 1/3 GWP
- superior economize of energy
- High heat conductivity and refrigeration capacity
- Drop in low pressure
- Simple to handle and recover single-component refrigerant
- small toxicity
- Easily accessible (R32 is utilized in the production of R410A, a mixture of 50% R32 and 50% R125
- Currently, R-32 is combined with other refrigerant gases to create R-410a. Until January 1, 2023, R-410a is the refrigerant of choice for all HVAC equipment manufacturers.
Note: R-32 is officially classified as combustible. However, studies have shown that the conditions required for R-32 to ignite are so particular and highly unlikely to occur that they are not a concern in the vast majority of residential or commercial applications.
R-454B
- greater heating efficiency than R-32
- 5–10% less refrigerant is needed than what R-410a-using equipment needs.
- The global warming potential (GWP) of R-454B is 465 GWP, while that of R-32 is 675 GWP.
- Because R-454B and R-410a operate at similar operating pressures and temperatures, manufacturers can create equipment with specifications that are very similar to those of R-410a-using equipment.
Note: R-454B is theoretically classified as combustible, though to a lesser extent than R-32. However, studies have shown that the conditions required for R-454B to ignite are also extremely rare to occur, so in the vast majority of residential or commercial applications, it is not a concern.
Continually update With Union City HVAC & Heating, manufacturers have generally chosen the refrigerant they will switch to as a result of legislative requirements and environmental pressure. Not all dates for these adjustments have been met for a variety of reasons, and we anticipate that some of them may be rescheduled when more significant concerns affecting the decisions alter. The staff at Union City HVAC & Heating is here to help you stay informed about the R-410A phase-out and will do so in the future as new information becomes available.