01/24/2025
Hello all!
I will apologize for the long post upfront😄, but I wanted to address an issue I have been hearing over and over again in my travels.
It has come to my attention that some of the more “unscrupulous” HVAC sales people have been using an untrue and recycled scare tactic in their sales as of late. The tactic is to use the A2L refrigerant change to make people think that the refrigerant their system uses will no longer be available. THIS IS FALSE.
Like many of these scare tactics, this one works because there is a grain of truth to the claim.
The following is the grain of truth:
Beginning 1/1/25, manufacturers can no longer utilize R410a refrigerant in their equipment (this is the most common refrigerant in residential HVAC systems).
Now, while the manufacture of R410a refrigerant equipment is no longer allowed, changing out your system for this sole purpose makes no sense, and is NOT REQUIRED. R410a will be available to service existing equipment for the foreseeable future. In fact, R22 is still available for existing R22 equipment, as are several less expensive alternative replacement refrigerants. The reason I refer this scare tactic as “recycled” is that this same fear based sales approach that was used in the R22 to R410a change. Again, the refrigerant is still available, however it may be more expensive. With this in mind, there is more to consider regarding refrigerant.
1. Yes, as the allowed amount of higher GWP refrigerants slowly creeps down (via EPA regulation), the price per pound will increase.
2. While the price for the factory installed refrigerant may be rising, many lower cost alternatives exist (example: R407c for R22 systems).
3. Alternatives can offer a lower per pound cost, while having a very low “efficiency” drop (in fact, I’ve never had a customer have a noticeable difference in performance going from R22 to R407c).
4. This is a big one. UNLESS YOU HAVE A LEAK, YOU NEED NOT WORRY ABOUT THE REFRIGERANT IN YOUR SYSTEM.
That last one is a big one. One of the versions of the “outlawed refrigerant” scare tactic is that your system is no longer ALLOWED to be run, since it utilizes these older refrigerants. This is a full on lie and quite shameful. I routinely walk up to systems that are 30, 40, and sometimes even 50+ years old running on the original charge. This equipment may not be the most economical to run vs what is available today, but it does its job. Remember, refrigerant is not “consumable”. It doesn’t not “wear out”. You don’t “use it up”. The refrigerant circuit is a closed system. The only reason your refrigerant would ever require “topping off”, is if the charge is low, indicating a possible leak, which is a different conversation. At that point, it may be in your best interest in upgrading your system to something more efficient.
There are a myriad of other nuances and considerations regarding whether or not you should consider replacing your existing HVAC equipment, some being quite valid, however, it is my opinion that if an HVAC “professional” tries to utilize a scare tactic based on lies, you should immediately show them to the door and never dial their number again. There are many honest companies out there that are competing for your business, and anyone who displays such lack of character as to lie to you in your own home does not deserve your business, and will most likely work in their own interest, not yours.
Stay safe, vigilant, and be comfortable in your home.
-Brent
