What Changes Are Coming to the HVAC Industry in 2025?
What Homeowners Need To Know
Beginning in January 2025, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has mandated that all HVAC manufacturers are required to produce equipment that uses a new and updated variant of refrigerant (commonly known as Freon). This class of refrigerant is more environmentally friendly and has less global warming potential than other refrigerants. The EPA is enacting this change to focus on reducing carbon emissions, improving system efficiencies, and combating the overall impact of global warming.
Today, Schneller Knochelmann Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning will explain this change and what it means for homeowners.
What Is Refrigerant?
Refrigerant is a chemical substance used in air conditioning systems and heat pumps to absorb heat inside your home and transfer it outside via a condenser coil. This substance is vital to your HVAC system’s operation and provides temperature control to heat or cool your home. In the same way gasoline moves through your car to create a chemical reaction and releases energy to power the vehicle, refrigerant moves through your HVAC equipment to heat and cool your home to the desired temperature.
What Is the Purpose of This Update?
With any technological or mechanical product, new function methods are being developed, tested, and implemented to improve the users’ and the environment’s experience. Some of these changes involve technology improvements, efficiency upgrades, or equipment swaps to reduce energy consumption and lower utility bills. The refrigerant change is a significant step in becoming more eco-friendly and reducing risks to the ozone layer.
Why Should You Care About This Change?
As a homeowner, your investment in HVAC equipment is not a small expense. Your heating and cooling system is vital to keeping you comfortable in your space all year long.
Although this change won’t be immediate, and we’ll not see the ultimate effects of this change for quite some time, this refrigerant update brings many abrupt changes, mostly changes to cost. New equipment will cost more, and older equipment may cost more to maintain and repair as older refrigerant variations and equipment models are phased out.
What Do Manufacturers Say?
As manufacturers begin to produce equipment compatible with the new refrigerant requirements and phase out older equipment models, these changes come with new costs. We’ve been informed that manufacturers expect price increases between 15% and 20% based on their new production requirements.
What Does This Mean for You?
This change doesn’t affect the way your system will operate today. Existing AC or heat pump equipment isn’t subject to using these new refrigerant types and can continue to operate as it has until its end of life.
However, if you need a new system and have been waiting for the “perfect” time to schedule an installation, now may be the time. Scheller Knochelmann has access to all forms of equipment and refrigerant before the start of the new year.
Contact our team today if you have any questions about this change or want a free estimate for a system replacement.