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At Bayonet Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, we prioritize staying abreast of changes in the HVAC industry and passing along important information that we feel is relevant to Florida homeowners. One such major change is just around the corner and it involves refrigerants, the essential substance in air conditioners that keeps your home cool during our extended cooling season.
Specifically, the R-410A refrigerant is being phased out due to new regulations. This phase-out is anticipated to raise costs for HVAC systems that rely on refrigerants industry-wide. If you know you are due for an HVAC installation in The Villages, you may want to upgrade sooner rather than later. Let’s explain your options.
The AIM Act and Refrigerant Changes
The AIM Act (American Innovation and Manufacturing Act) aims to reduce the use of specific hydrofluorocarbons or HFCs. One of these is the refrigerant R-410A which replaced Freon in the 1990s and has been used in cooling systems since then. R-410A is most well-known by the name Puron but is also sold under other names such as AZ-20, EcoFluor R410, Forane 410A, Genetron R410A, and Suva 410A. Your existing AC system most likely uses this type of refrigerant.
Do I Need to Replace My System That Uses R-410A?
There are two questions these changes pose: “Is it okay to have a system that uses R-410A?” Don’t worry–if your current system uses R-410A, you do not have to replace it immediately. Central air conditioners, heat pumps, and ductless mini splits that use R-410A can continue to function for the rest of their lifespan.
In Florida, cooling equipment typically lasts 8-12 years, depending on usage and maintenance. If your system is nearing the end of this range, it may be more cost-effective to buy an R-410A system now rather than wait. If your AC is less than 8 years old, has received regular tune-ups, and is running well, there’s no need to upgrade now.
The other question on homeowners’ minds is: “How much more will new HVAC systems cost when I do need an AC replacement?” We wish we could tell you with certainty what the expected price increases will be, but it’s too difficult to predict. Experts expect that systems using R-454B could be up to 20% higher than comparable systems being sold today.
If You Decide to Wait to Upgrade
If you choose to delay upgrading, it’s important to keep your current system well-maintained. We recommend annual maintenance for central air conditioners and twice-a-year tune-ups for heat pumps, VRF/VRV systems, and ductless mini splits because you use them year-round.
Consider joining our MVP Plan to make scheduling maintenance for your home comfort systems easy and stress-free. We offer maintenance services through our special MVP Plan to ensure your cooling equipment runs at peak efficiency and lasts for its expected lifespan. This plan exceeds industry standards—we’re always glad to go above and beyond for our customers.
It’s No Sweat: Call Bayonet! Contact Bayonet Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning to schedule HVAC installation in The Villages, FL today!