{"id":1618,"date":"2024-12-18T15:21:32","date_gmt":"2024-12-18T20:21:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lentheplumber.com\/baltimore-area\/?p=1618"},"modified":"2025-10-13T03:27:17","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T07:27:17","slug":"2025-changes-to-freon-requirements-for-baltimore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lentheplumber.com\/baltimore-area\/blog\/2025-changes-to-freon-requirements-for-baltimore\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 Freon Mandate Change &\u00a0What It Means for Baltimore Residents"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"HVAC<\/a>With summers that reach into the 80s and 90s, Baltimore-area residents need a quality air conditioning solution to stay cool and comfortable.<\/p>\n

If you’re considering a new HVAC unit or an upgrade within the next few years, it’s important to learn how the R-410A refrigerant phase-out may affect your equipment options and costs.<\/p>\n

These changes will directly impact homeowners who are looking to upgrade their HVAC systems in the near future.<\/p>\n

The American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020<\/h2>\n

When the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 was signed into law, it introduced new refrigerant requirements for air conditioners<\/a>, heat pumps<\/a>, and ductless mini-splits<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Older refrigerants like R-22 were found to damage the Earth’s ozone layer, which protects us from excessive UV radiation that can cause skin cancer and other health issues.<\/p>\n

Due to their negative environmental effects, the manufacturing and importation of older refrigerants like R-22 were outlawed on Jan. 1, 2010. They were phased out of all new equipment and no longer available after 2020.<\/p>\n

While R-410A has fewer detrimental effects on the ozone layer than R-22 and a lower global warming potential (GWP), it can still cause significant damage to the environment. Beginning in 2025, it, too, will be phased out and replaced by new, less-harmful refrigerants.<\/p>\n

R-454B vs. Other Refrigerants<\/h2>\n

The new standards introduced by the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act will outlaw the importation and manufacture of R-410A after Jan. 1, 2025, phasing it out in a similar manner to R-22. It will be replaced by new refrigerants like R-454B, which don’t have severe effects on the ozone layer or high global warming potential. R-454B has a GWP of less than 466, while R-410A has a GWP of 2088.<\/p>\n

One downside of R-454B is that it has slightly higher flammability than R-410A. It has an A2L classification, which means it has low flammability and low flame propagation. R-410 is a class A1 refrigerant, which means it’s not flammable and has no flame propagation.<\/p>\n

But with the low levels of A2L refrigerant in a typical system, and the additional safety features in new ACs, the risk of fire is minimal should the system develop a leak. Both A2L and A1 refrigerants are considered non-toxic.<\/p>\n

The other downside is that equipment using R-454B refrigerant will cost more to install initially, though it will be significantly more efficient, reducing utility costs over the system’s lifetime.<\/p>\n

What Does the Refrigerant Change Mean for Homeowners?<\/h2>\n

Although new air conditioners that use R-454B may be a bit more expensive than those based on R-410A, at least initially, they’ll cost less to operate thanks to greater efficiency and be less damaging to the environment.<\/p>\n

Plus, by choosing an R-454B system now, you can future-proof your Baltimore home and avoid the need to upgrade your HVAC system in the near future.<\/p>\n

Finance Your HVAC Replacement<\/h2>\n

Are you ready to upgrade your AC unit to a modern, more efficient model that supports R-454B refrigerants? Call our team at Len The Plumber Heating & Air.<\/p>\n

We make AC replacements<\/a> easy with high-quality, professional installations and\u00a0financing options<\/a> with approved credit.<\/p>\n

Top Factors Contributing to Rising HVAC Equipment Costs<\/h2>\n

The need to develop and implement new refrigerant solutions has had a significant impact on HVAC equipment costs, forcing manufacturers to redesign their equipment and implement new production techniques, but that’s not the only reason HVAC system<\/a> costs have risen. Additional causes include:<\/p>\n