HVAC manufacturing, like any other industry, is always moving forward. New materials are being developed, and new manufacturing techniques are found to be better than the old ones. These changes often have to do with reducing energy use and limiting environmental impact. New materials for AC coils, multi-phase compressors, and variable-speed motors are all recent advances.
Now, in 2025, there’s another change. Thanks to the American Industry and Manufacturing Act of 2020, many less-efficient and environmentally destructive approaches are being phased out. The refrigerant that flows through heat pump and air conditioner coils has gotten a major upgrade. Here’s what you need to know about it.
The AIM Act
The legislation signed into law in 2020 was crafted with three main goals: to reduce American dependence on foreign and/or nonrenewable energy sources, to reduce the amount of money Americans have to spend paying our energy bills, and to increase the number of jobs available to Americans in industry and manufacturing. Over the past five years, pieces of that act have gradually gone into effect.
The Critical Role of Refrigerant
In a heat pump or air conditioner, the coils are full of a chemical substance called refrigerant. It is there to absorb heat in one location, carry it to another location, and release it. It is important that the refrigerant have extremely high thermal conductivity; that is, refrigerant must change in temperature easily. The coils are a sealed loop, so refrigerant does not get used up, and only needs to be replenished in the case of a leak.
Refrigerants Past and Present
When cooling systems like this — first refrigerators and freezers, and then central air conditioners in homes — were first introduced, they used a refrigerant called R-12, which you might know as Freon. This was found to do a great deal of damage to the ozone layer, so the Montreal Protocol of 1987 mandated a move away from R-12 and other CFCs.
R-22 and then eventually R-410a were used instead. They have lower environmental impacts than Freon, but now, a new option has become available. R-454B is even better at transferring heat, significantly reducing the amount of energy needed to run a heat pump or air conditioner. The AIM act requires any American-made heat pumps or AC units to use this new refrigerant as of January, 2025.
The Impact on Consumers
When there are changes to manufacturing, it will have an impact on the people purchasing from those manufacturers. In most cases, this is felt in two ways, which we expect AC and heat pump consumers will experience in the coming year. First, there are increased costs, at least temporarily, as manufacturers change over to new materials. Second, there are supply chain delays.
What does this mean for you? If you think you might need to replace parts of your HVAC system in the near future, it may be better to do it as soon as possible. Also, if your old system uses R-410A, it may be difficult to get any to refill your coils if they leak, which may motivate you even more to upgrade your system.
We would love to talk to you about your options for AC and heat pumps in Cumberland County, including Vineland, Deerfield, and Upper Deerfield. Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions!