USA: Lennox has become the latest US manufacturer to announce a switch to lower GWP refrigerant R454B across all its residential HVAC products. Last month, Johnson Controls announced the launch of a brand-new suite of residential products optimised for use with the same refrigerant.
This refrigerant is considered a lower global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant. R-454B, formerly known as DL-5A, has been selected by several manufacturers, including Mitsubishi Electric, Carrier, Johnson Controls, Trane, and others.
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.
R-454B, known commercially as Puron Advance™, is Carrier's refrigerant of choice for all ducted and ductless residential and light commercial applications.
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.
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.
No. 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.
Comprehensive Environmental Impact Metrics
This means systems using R32 typically consume less energy over their lifetime, resulting in fewer indirect emissions. R454B, while also efficient, may require a larger charge size to achieve similar cooling performance, which can increase its overall environmental footprint.
If your system was installed in 2024 or beyond, it will likely use Puron Advance, also known as R-454B. Puron Advance has a low Global Warming Potential while also being non-ozone depleting.
Last year, Carrier announced that it had chosen R-454B as its primary lower-GWP solution to replace R-410A in all of its ducted residential and light commercial packaged solutions sold in North America.
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.
Chlorofluorocarbons. The production of chlorofluorocarbons, commonly known as CFCs, was banned in the 1990s. The refrigerant, which contains chlorine, has a huge environmental impact. In fact, a 1974 report stated that CFCs would eventually deplete the planet's ozone layer.
Trane and the refrigerant transition
We're adopting the R-454B refrigerant for use in newly manufactured residential cooling products. R-454B has already demonstrated exceptional performance during Trane's field trials in the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge.
In compliance with industry regulations, the HVAC industry is shifting from Puron (R410A) refrigerant to Puron Advance (R454B) in Q4 of 2024.
What refrigerant will replace R-410A in 2025? For whole-home systems, Lennox has chosen 2025 Compliant Refrigerant R-454B due to its excellent performance for ducted systems and zero ozone depletion potential. For mini-splits, we selected R-32, designed to optimize efficiency and reliability in ductless systems.
R-32 is a single component refrigerant, so topping off an R-32 system should not be an issue. R-454B is a refrigerant blend but has a very low fractionation potential and a very low temperature glide, so topping off an R-454B system should not be an issue.
The move comes months in advance of the 2025 regulatory shift that requires that newly manufactured equipment use lower-GWP refrigerants. R-454B, known commercially as Puron Advance, is Carrier's refrigerant of choice for all ducted and ductless residential and light commercial applications.
R-410A is a refrigerant that is classified as a greenhouse gas with a high global warming potential and a negative impact on the climate. It is being phased out for a more environmentally friendly solution for HVAC systems.
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.
The new air conditioner models have arrived, and they contain a new brand of refrigerant. All new systems will use either R-32 or R-454B HVAC Refrigerant, replacing the older R-410A version.
Exposure hazards: Flammable. In combustion emits toxic fumes. Forms explosive air-vapour mixture. Advice for fire-fighters: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus.
Current Pricing Trends
As of December 2021, the cost of R454B refrigerant is approximately $8 per pound (GitHub).
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.
Gauge sets used with R-410A should be okay to use with R-454B, although technicians may need to update their digital manifolds to include the newer refrigerants. Standard hand tools like wrenches and tube cutters should be the same.
R-410A PHASE-DOWN TIMELINE
We will reach a 70% decrease by 2029. In 2034, we will see 80% less R-410A being produced than it is today, and the phase-down will end in 2036 with another 5% reduction.