Air Conditioning Warning Issued as Temperatures Heat Up
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
As summer temperatures begin to rise across the country, a headache is also heating up for the air conditioning industry.
A shortage of R-454B refrigerant, the eco-friendly coolant poised to replace older formulas, is threatening to disrupt cooling systems at the worst possible time.
Why It Matters
Manufacturers have issued warnings about potential legal and damage concerns about mixing refrigerants as a means to circumvent the shortages.
A mechanic working on an outdoor air conditioner in Orlando, Florida, on October 13, 2022.
A mechanic working on an outdoor air conditioner in Orlando, Florida, on October 13, 2022.
Wirestock/Getty Images
What Is R-454B Refrigerant?
R-454B is a next-generation refrigerant developed to replace R-410A in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
Its composition results in a refrigerant with a significantly lower global warming potential than older refrigerants, making it less environmentally harmful.
Why Is There a Shortage?
According to heating and cooling specialist Aristotle Air, the shortage of R-454B refrigerant is primarily due to a combination of regulatory changes, supply chain disruptions and increased demand.
The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 mandated the use of refrigerants with a global warming potential of 750 or less by January 1, 2025.
R-454B, with a global warming potential of 466, has been adopted by major HVAC manufacturers as the standard replacement for R-410A, Aristotle Air said, adding that the EPA's mandate sparked a "surge" in installations.
It also reported a lack of the specialized cylinders required for R-454B, which has bottlenecked distribution.
Post-COVID-19 logistic disruptions and raw material shortages have additionally limited R-454B output, and contractors, anticipating shortages, have been hoarding R-454B, further exacerbating scarcity, Aristotle Air added.
Warnings
While most U.S. HVAC manufacturers chose R-454B for new systems, some brands have opted for R-32. Daikin warned customers about strict EPA and Department of Energy rules on refrigerant mixing as a strategy to mitigate the shortages.
"Using R-32 in an R-454B unit is not only against manufacturers' recommendations, due to differences in their chemical compositions and operating characteristics, it is also illegal," the firm said in a notice issued to customers, according to The ACHR News.
"Unless an alternative has been approved by EPA's Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program (and the necessary system modifications have been made), each HVAC unit is designed for a specific refrigerant, and using a different refrigerant can lead to malfunctions or damages," the notice continued.
What People Are Saying
Jason Gassmann, the owner of Bell Brothers Heating & AC, told WHO 13: "The supply chain is going to be an issue if you didn't prepare for it because you won't be able to fix problems with new systems that people have paid for. That will be a huge issue as far as the pricing and stuff. Yes, the tariffs have affected the price of a cylinder of this refrigerant, because we are low on supply. It has gone up exponentially, which obviously impacts the financials of a business, which is which is hard on us."
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday: "R-410A which has been an incredibly reliable and inexpensive refrigerant is being phased out and R-454B is the new refrigerant that everyone has to buy, but can barely find. The shortage and supply of R-454B is driving the cost as high as $1,000 dollars for a 20 pound jug compared to an avg cost of $300 for a 25 pound jug of R-410A."
What Happens Next
The shortages could pose a concern as summer approaches and temperatures across the country begin to rise, increasing demand for cooling. Forecasters at AccuWeather are anticipating potentially record-breaking temperatures in some Western states Thursday through Saturday.
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