US AC companies act to ease R454B refrigerant shortage

The shortage, driven by supply chain bottlenecks, cylinder shortages, and surging demand following the U.S. AIM Act, has led to rising costs and installation delays. The Act, which banned R410A (GWP 750+) in new residential and light commercial HVAC systems as of January 1, has accelerated the shift to R454B – a blend of 68.9% R32 and 31.1% R1234yf (GWP 466).

 

Supply Constraints Worsen

 

The surge in demand has been compounded by a lack of A2L-compatible cylinders, raw material shortages, and reports of contractor stockpiling. Last month, Honeywell imposed a 42% surcharge on R454B, citing unprecedented demand and international trade tariffs. The company admitted it could not meet demand with domestic production alone.

 

Manufacturers Respond

 

To ease shortages, Carrier has secured additional refrigerant supplies, redirected internal shipments to distributors, and increased pre-charging in residential ducted splits from 15ft to 30ft line sets – without added surcharges. Trane has similarly boosted pre-charging to reduce field refrigerant needs.

 

Both manufacturers warn that R454B and R32 are not interchangeable, stressing compliance with unit nameplate specifications.

 

As the industry adapts to the new regulatory landscape, manufacturers are working to stabilise supply chains while urging proper refrigerant handling to avoid further disruptions.

 

 

Source:  https://www.coolingpost.com/world-news/us-ac-companies-move-to-ease-r454b-shortage/