What Are We Talking About

Yes, I know about its Global Warming Potential and that it was always potentially slated as an interim refrigerant. I ran into my first piece of equipment with R410a which was brand new in 1999. R410a equipment was not really widely available until 2008. In fact, it wasnt until 2014 that all manufacturers HAD to use R410a in all new equipment across the board, officially phasing out R22 in 2013. Now its 2023. Thats only 9 years at full production with R410a! R22 was used for over 60 years! Now, the gas pedal is currently pressed through the floor to push R410a out the door right now. These refrigerant leaks have plagued EVERY manufacturer. None stands superior to the effects of R410a. I can confidently say that I believe R410a is the worst refrigerant ever made and widely used. It’s been a terrible, hot, sweaty, tearful ride. R410a systems have been the most unreliable when compared to its predecessor R22 systems in which I have had an equal amount of experience with. In fact, I often run into R22 systems still operating in the wild with 20-30+ years of operation, never having had a refrigerant leak, that I hope the home owners NEVER see or have a R410a system, but rather, I hope they can leap frog to the next phase of refrigerants.

What makes things worse has been the global deficit of refrigerant manufacturing causing R410a and other refrigerant shortages and prices to soar. Also, the E.P.A. has created new manufacturing regulations to change how refrigerant is distributed, actually, they created a ban on disposable / non refillable cylinders to take effect in 2025. This has caused a shock wave of logistical crisis for manufacturing and distribution. So much so, some have filed a petition to the U.S. Court of Appeals to overturn the ban, however the E.P.A. apparently has not responded, causing more controversy and concern. All of these things impact industry pricing.

The R410a refrigerant phase-out is a major concern for the HVAC industry. This refrigerant has been widely used in air conditioning systems for over a decade, but due to its high global warming potential (GWP), it is being phased out in many countries. The phase-out is expected to be complete by 2025 in the European Union and by 2026 in the United States.

To replace R410a, two alternative refrigerants have emerged as viable options: R32 and R454b. Both of these refrigerants have lower GWPs than R410a, making them more environmentally friendly. However, there are some differences between the two that make R32 a better choice.
R32 has a GWP of 675, which is significantly lower than R410a’s GWP of 2088. R454b has a GWP of 466, which is even lower than R32, but it is a new refrigerant and is not yet widely available. R32, on the other hand, has been used in air conditioning systems in Japan for many years and is already being used in some systems in Europe.

Another advantage of R32 is its higher energy efficiency. R32 has a higher cooling capacity than R410a, which means that air conditioning systems that use R32 can achieve the same level of cooling with less refrigerant. This can lead to lower energy consumption and lower operating costs.

R32 is also easier to handle than R454b. R32 is a single-component refrigerant, which means that it is easier to charge and service air conditioning systems that use it. R454b, on the other hand, is a blend of several different refrigerants, which can make it more difficult to handle and service.
In conclusion, the phase-out of R410a refrigerant is a necessary step to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the environment. R32 and R454b are two alternative refrigerants that have lower GWPs and are more environmentally friendly. While both of these refrigerants are good options, R32 is a better choice due to its higher energy efficiency and ease of handling. R32 is already largely available globally. Unfortunately, most domestic manufacturers have decided to use the R454b refrigerant. Daikin is using R32 already and plans to continue using R32 moving forward. This means Daikin systems will have slightly lower operating costs due to the more efficient R32 refrigerant, possibly smaller equipment footprint, and servicing costs should be lower with R32 versus R454b. We are Daikin Comfort Pros so we are happy with the decision to use R32 refrigerant.

Stay Cool!
-Cliff Sanchez