Trane is phasing in the transition to R-454B in 2024, starting with the adoption of R-454B refrigerant in its residential products, beginning with the XR15 SEER2 heat pump.
In compliance with industry regulations, the HVAC industry is shifting from Puron (R410A) refrigerant to Puron Advance (R454B) in Q4 of 2024.
Trane (and much of the residential HVAC industry) has chosen to move forward with R-454B, which has a reduced environmental impact when compared to previous refrigerants. In addition to having a lower GWP, R-454B has no ozone depletion potential (ODP).
R-454b is a drop-in replacement for R-410a, so equipment doesn't have to be redesigned. It's about 60% R32.
Yes, R-410A will still be available for maintenance and repairs for many years. R-410A won't actually be phased out of production until the 2040s. Also, contractors can still reclaim and reuse refrigerant from older systems.
In fact, R-410A will continue to be produced until 2040. However, as its availability decreases, you can expect the price of R-410A refrigerant to rise by 20-25%. This means you'll be paying more and more for maintenance and repairs of your aging AC unit.
R32 has the advantage of being a singlecomponent refrigerant with higher energy efficiency and a smaller physical footprint. It's already in use globally, so you can be confident in its reliability. R454B, while newer, has the benefit of an even lower GWP, making it the more environmentally friendly option.
R454B: slightly lower capacity than R410A but better efficiency; lower GWP. R32: better efficiency and around 10% more capacity than R410A, depending on the application and system design.
Cost: Systems that use R-454b will likely be more expensive due to specialized tools and installation procedures. Maintenance: Homeowners may face more frequent sensor issues with R-454b systems, especially in the early stages of its adoption.
R-454B was developed at and is manufactured by Chemours. Carrier first announced introduction of R-454B in ducted residential and light commercial packaged refrigeration and air conditioning products in 2018, with R-454B-based products launches starting in 2023.
Starting January 1, 2025, the EPA will require all new residential and light commercial HVAC systems to use refrigerants with a much lower GWP—specifically, R-454B and R-32, which are considered far more environmentally friendly.
Like its predecessor R-410A, R-454B poses no danger to the ozone layer. These advantages that led Lennox to adopt R-454B as our primary 2025 Compliant Refrigerant for whole-home systems and R-32 for our ductless mini-split systems.
Exposure hazards: Flammable. In combustion emits toxic fumes. Forms explosive air-vapour mixture. Advice for fire-fighters: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus.
R-454B, known commercially as Puron Advance™, is Carrier's refrigerant of choice for all ducted and ductless residential and light commercial applications.
R-454B has a lower GWP than previous refrigerants, meaning it has a much lower climate impact. Trane is phasing in the transition to R-454B in 2024, starting with the adoption of R-454B refrigerant in its residential products, beginning with the XR15 SEER2 heat pump.
Current Pricing Trends
As of December 2021, the cost of R454B refrigerant is approximately $8 per pound (GitHub).
Beginning in late 2024, R454B will replace R410A in all newly manufactured HVAC systems to meet these environmental goals. This change is in line with the EPA's SNAP (Significant New Alternatives Policy) program, which ensures that the alternatives meet both environmental and safety standards.
R454B is THE best-balanced choice to replace R410A for all your building projects where a scroll chiller, heat pump or rooftop unit is needed.
Several HVAC manufacturers have officially declared upcoming price hikes for 2024, garnering attention as a new wave of increases takes effect. There is a noticeable industry-wide trend of manufacturers elevating the prices of equipment, parts, and supplies.
R-454B is NOT a drop-in replacement for R-410A. Although many of the characteristics of R-454B are similar to R-410A, the use of R-454B is restricted by code and regulation to systems for which it was specifically designed.
As R-410A is phased out, A2L refrigerants are emerging as the primary alternatives due to their lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) and reduced environmental impact. Refrigerants like R-32 and R-454B are leading the charge, offering a GWP that is significantly lower than R-410A.
ACHR NEWS: As a mildly flammable refrigerant, R-454B can't be retrofitted into existing R-22 and R-410A systems.
History of R-454B as a Refrigerant
R-454B was developed in the late 2010s by Chemours and was formulated to serve as a lower GWP (global warming potential) alternative to R-410A, the usage of which has dominated the commercial HVAC market since the phaseout of R-22.
Specifically, R-454B typically offers better COP, but based on our recent performance testing, there are scenarios in which its capacity is less than R-410A.