2025 Refrigerant Changes: How New Regulations Impact Homeowners and HVAC Systems

New federal rules regulating widely used hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants, such as R-410A, take effect on January 1, 2025. Most American homeowners are unlikely to feel the effects of the R-410A phasedown immediately, but they may encounter cost increases and parts shortages for HVAC and refrigeration equipment in the months and years to come.

The sections below outline the purpose for the HVAC refrigerant changes in 2025 as well as the pertinent details for homeowners.

The Shift to Environmentally Friendly Refrigerants

All cooling appliances, from refrigerators and freezers to HVAC systems and window-unit air conditioners, use some kind of refrigerant. There are many kinds of refrigerant, but all are essentially chemical substances that facilitate the transfer of heat to create a cooling effect. The first refrigerants were chemically synthesized chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Though effective, they were eventually discovered to be agents of ozone depletion, and the EPA phased out CFCs in the 1990s. Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) replaced CFCs as the primary refrigerant in cooling equipment, but only temporarily. HCFCs are also ozone-depleting substances, though they are not as harmful as CFCs. The EPA phased out HCFCs in the 2010s.

Other synthetic chemical compounds known as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) have been among the most common refrigerants in recent years. But these too have negative environmental implications. Researchers and regulators initially preferred HFCs because they do not harm the ozone layer, but HFCs are potential drivers of global warming. As a result, the US government is phasing out many HFC-based refrigerants, and new rules take effect at the beginning of the 2025 calendar year.

Hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants are typically assigned a global warming potential (GWP) value. This is a figure that represents how meaningfully the refrigerant contributes to global warming relative to carbon dioxide. A GWP value of 2, for instance, would mean that the substance is twice as potent as carbon dioxide; a GWP value of 10 would mean ten times the potency of carbon dioxide. One of the most common HFC-based refrigerants, R-410A, has a GWP value of 2,088. You can see why the EPA is aggressive about phasing out its use.

The 2025 EPA refrigerant changes, which stem from the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act that the US Congress passed in 2020, include GWP limits for refrigerants in a range of residential and commercial cooling equipment. Refrigerants in residential HVAC systems, for instance, must not have a GWP level that exceeds 700.

Ultimately, the EPA’s guidance is intended to curtail pollution and environmental degradation without shocking the economy, the American consumer, or manufacturers of HVAC and refrigeration equipment. The changes are most pertinent to corporate manufacturers and distributors who now have revised guidelines on how to build cooling equipment and what kinds of cooling equipment are eligible for sale in the United States. In practice, many major manufacturers and distributors of refrigerators, freezers, electric coolers, and freezers have already been following these more environmentally friendly guidelines for months or years.

 

Approved Refrigerants for 2025

If refrigerants with high GWP values, such as R-410A, are banned in new HVAC and cooling appliances in 2025, which refrigerants will take their place? Two of the most common replacements are R-32 and R-454B. 

• R-32: This refrigerant is considerably more energy efficient than older refrigerants, such as R-22 and R-410A. It is also better for the environment, with a GWP value of approximately 675. In most cases, R-32 is a suitable replacement for cooling systems and appliances that were designed to use R-22 or R-410A refrigerants.   
• R-454B: Also more environmentally friendly than traditional refrigerants, R-454B has a GWP value of around 465. It is also slightly more energy efficient than R-410A.

It is important to note that both R-32 and R-454B are classified as A2L refrigerants. This means that they are considered to be mildly flammable. While the chance of fire is not severe, regulators are requiring manufacturers of new HVAC and cooling products to install a variety of safety systems on appliances that are designed to use R-32 and R-454B refrigerants. These safety features include new sensors that can detect refrigerant leaks. 

How These Changes Affect Homeowners

But what about the average American homeowner? How do refrigerator and AC refrigerant changes, 2025 and beyond, affect the average consumer?

For most people, the immediate effects will not be significant. Systems that use R-22 or R-410A refrigerants are among the most common types of HVAC systems in the United States. If you have such a system in your home, you can continue to use your equipment, and qualified technicians can continue to service and maintain it. You don’t need to suddenly spend hundreds or thousands of dollars replacing your cooling appliances or retrofitting them to accommodate the EPA’s new guidelines.

Homeowners who are planning an imminent HVAC upgrade or replacement should be mindful of the EPA’s new guidance. Homeowners who still have some years left in their current systems will find the effects of the new regulations to be more pronounced in the years ahead. In short, older systems may become comparatively costly to run and repair, and refrigerants that the EPA is phasing out will become harder to find.

What Homeowners Need to Know About HVAC Upgrades

Being aware of the new regulations impacting the HVAC industry can help homeowners make more informed decisions about their home equipment. Here is what you need to know: 

• Prices for equipment and materials may fluctuate. In the near term, modern cooling equipment is likely to be more expensive than appliances that use older refrigerants. But that can change in a few years. As more and more cooling systems are upgraded to be compatible with more modern refrigerants, older refrigerants like R-22 and R-410A may become more expensive and harder to come by. \
  
  Also, parts that are unique to older models will eventually be discontinued and harder to source. As a result, it may become costlier to repair an older system.
   
• Energy efficiency will dictate how much you spend over time. New HVAC models may have high upfront costs, but they consume less energy than comparatively older models. Ultimately, keeping an existing and outdated HVAC system might save you some money in the short term, but costs in the long term can add up.
• There may be temporary disruption in the professional HVAC industry. Because modern R-32 and R454B refrigerants are flammable, newer cooling appliances may require additional sensors, leak detectors, and other safety features. These requirements have the potential to disrupt the industry. Production workflows may need to be revamped, companies may need to source new materials, and HVAC technicians will have to familiarize themselves with how these new features operate. As a result, homeowners may see higher prices for or limited availability of modern HVAC equipment and servicing.

Our advice to the average homeowner: You can replace your current HVAC system with a new model that has been built to be in compliance with the government’s new regulations. But this is probably not a worthwhile investment unless your system is due for a replacement anyway. If your AC system is not cooling adequately, it’s a good idea to look into a modern replacement. But manufacturers may refine the designs of modern HVAC systems in the years ahead, and energy efficiency is likely to continue to improve. Costs associated with R-32 and R-454B systems may come down in the near future too as the equipment becomes more commonplace. If you can wait a little while for a new system, there’s little reason not to.

The Role of Home Warranties in Refrigerant Transition

Homeowners can continue to lean on their HVAC and refrigerator warranty coverage to service and repair their equipment during the broader transition to new, more environmentally friendly refrigerants. The 2025 rules affect the production and sale of older equipment. Existing appliances and systems, even if they’re not in compliance with the new rules, can remain in homes and commercial buildings across the United States.

If the costs associated with repairing older cooling appliances do increase, home warranty coverage may be even more valuable because of the financial protection it can offer. Whether you encounter one of the most common air conditioner problems or something more unusual, reliable warranty coverage can help you keep your chill. Learn more about Liberty Home Guard’s home warranty offerings by calling (833)-545-5590.