The New Regulations Starting January 1, 2025, all new residential air conditioners and heat pumps must utilize A2L refrigerants. Older refrigerants like R-410, which are likely the refrigerant used by your current system, are being phased out.
Efficiency ratings are regional, so the new HVAC regulations for 2024 depend on where you live. New air conditioners in Northern regions must have a minimum SEER rating of 14. In Southern regions, the minimum SEER rating is 15 for most units.
HVAC systems manufactured in 2025 and beyond will no longer use R-410A, the most common refrigerant in current residential air conditioning units and heat pumps. This is part of a global effort to reduce the environmental impact of refrigerants that contribute to global warming and ozone depletion.
Major changes are coming to the HVAC industry in 2025, which will require new HVAC systems to eliminate their use of R-410A. Over the next decade, the EPA aims to transition all equipment to refrigerants with a lower Global Warming Potential.
The new refrigerant changes in 2025 are part of a larger effort to make air conditioning systems more environmentally friendly, while still keeping homes comfortable. These changes are being driven by regulations to phase out older refrigerants like R-410A, which have a high global warming potential (GWP).
The New Regulations
Starting January 1, 2025, all new residential air conditioners and heat pumps must utilize A2L refrigerants. Older refrigerants like R-410, which are likely the refrigerant used by your current system, are being phased out.
The average cost of installing a new central air conditioner in 2024, including equipment and labor costs, is $5,750 for a 3-ton unit in a 2,000-square-foot home.
On January 1, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned the production and import of R-22. But units manufactured in 2009 and earlier still use R-22 today. Its use will eventually be eliminated in the U.S., so all current and future homeowners must be prepared for the transition.
OSHA has no regulations specifically addressing temperature and humidity in an office setting. However, Section III, Chapter 2, Subsection V of the OSHA Technical Manual, "Recommendations for the Employer," provides engineering and administrative guidance to prevent or alleviate indoor air quality problems.
R22 (also known as HCFC-22) is a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) once widely used as a refrigerant. If your home or office AC is over 10 years old, it's probably using R22 freon. However, R22 Freon is banned in the U.S. today.
The government HVAC refrigerant mandate, initiated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and set to take effect on January 1, 2025, will phase out the use of R-410A refrigerant in residential-type HVAC systems, replacing it with R-454B and R-32, depending on the manufacturer.
Modern air conditioners can last between 15-20 years, and older air conditioners last around 10-12 years. The health and efficiency of your A/C depends on a number of factors, including whether or not you properly maintained the unit throughout its lifetime.
If your HVAC system is nearing the end of its life, now is the time to act. By upgrading your system in 2024, you can avoid the price hikes and ensure that you have a reliable and efficient HVAC system for years to come.
Ducted AC Split Systems (or Mixed Ducted and Non-Ducted)
Individuals who purchase and place into service qualifying equipment between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024 may qualify for a non-refundable tax credit of up to $600 per system, subject to an annual limit of $1200 per taxpayer.
While there are no specific federal regulations about working in extreme cold or heat, you do have a right to a workplace “free from recognized hazards .” That includes exposure to extreme cold and heat. Some states do have more rigorous rules regarding heat, and you can find the state plans here .
Charles' Law - As the pressure of refrigerant increases, so does the temperature. As pressure decreases in refrigerant, so does the temperature. The ideal gas law (PV = nRT) relates the macroscopic properties of ideal gases.
If you've gotten hurt because of heat exposure at work, you could have a legal claim for personal injury – especially if your employer knew about the hazard and did nothing to fix it. If you got fired because you reported unsafe conditions at work, you could have a claim for wrongful termination.
As Freon was phased out, new HVAC systems began using a refrigerant known as Puron® or R-410A, an HFC. More efficient and less harmful to the environment, R-410A has been in use since its introduction in 1996 and is found in most of today's modern HVAC systems.
As of January 1, 2020, production and import of R22 refrigerant will be illegal in the United States. Of course, continued use of your air conditioner (AC) or heat pump system using R22 refrigerant is allowed.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began the phase out of Freon in 1992 when it ordered the ban that took effect in 2020. Because of the long phase-in starting in 2010, new air conditioning, heat pumps, and refrigeration systems stopped using Freon, which is also known as HCFC-22 and R-22.
During spring and fall, most people aren't running their HVAC systems as often which, in turn, means HVAC companies are not as busy and are not selling as many new units. This drop in demand enables them to offer deals on their services and equipment.
Homeowners insurance covers HVAC systems when the damage is a result of a covered disaster or peril, including high winds, fallen trees, theft, hail or even a fire. So if lightning strikes your unit and damages its electrical components, your homeowners insurance policy would probably cover it.