Just fair warning to the board- don't have a hvac issue anytime soon. The usa really shot itself in the foot with the new standards in so much that there was a hard stop to the former refrigerant.

My understanding, from a very detailed meeting today, is that the new 454 refrigerant will be out of stock, for the entire usa, by mid summer at the latest. I called my hvac guy and he said he can't even get it now. The new machines are getting pre-primed with 10ft of refrigerant but they have to pressurize the rest and there just isnt any supply.

My guy said it's an issue with the shipping. The shipping containers are insufficient and no one had the bright idea to manufacture containers to carry the new stuff.

So, good luck of you need a swap out or are building a new home

Then the manufacturers that went to R-32 (Daikin?) are set to clean up this summer.

I don't disagree that the R-32 units seem to have a better forecast but if the theory is true about the tank manufacturer not having enough tanks it's going to catch R32 as well. They use the same tanks. I think the larger issue is a larger share of the market went R454B (Trane, Carrier, Lennox, Rheem, Ruud, Etc) and the demand is higher for R454B.

I've been able to get a drum every time I've needed one (knock on wood) but it's damn expensive compared to R410A, about three times the cost to be honest. I have about half a pallet of R410a remaining and I really wish I would have bought a pallet of R454B last fall.

Whatever you do, DO NOT allow your AC guy to mix refrigerants or to "top off" a R454B system with R410a or R32.

One more thing we can thank the government for screwing up.

Who do you recommend for the Houston area for a replacement system?

Call Jim Wolf (class of 88 and owner of Wise Guys heating and cooling) 832-347-0807. Family owned owned company since 1979. He has helped many an Aggie with knowledge and a good deal.

AgLA06 said:

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Who do you recommend for the Houston area for a replacement system?

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Give us a call...I own Wise Guys Heating & Cooling and we are in the Cypress, NW Houston area but can help a fellow Ag in the Houston area...My mobile is 832-347-0807...office is 713-466-7555. My son Dylan's number is 832-334-8525. We are both Aggie Grad's and a family owned business..

This has been my fear for awhile. I really didn't want to have to go with the new systems but I'm living with a very old hvac. I thought about replacing it beforehand but numerous companies said to wait. I just hope mine can survive the summer and hope for a reversal of rules or something.

Beckdiesel03 said:

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I really didn't want to have to go with the new systems but I'm living with a very old hvac.

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Some of the older R-22 systems were built very well and if you can actually find a company that will repair them when it's needed you're probably in good shape. Of course, their SEER rating is lower and thus they'll cost more to run, but I always look at total cost of ownership when comparing.

The problem is most companies don't want to fool with systems that old. If you can find a guy who will (or learn to do it yourself), you're probably in good shape.

It used to be that guys would charge a small fortune per pound to charge an R-22 system. Now it seems they charge a small fortune per pound to charge an R-410A system. In either case, you'd first prefer they'd find the leak and fix it but that takes time and "techs" are in short supply, it seems.

It's really too bad that R-22 is an ozone killer. It is a great single-component refrigerant with a low GWP (well, lower than R-410A). They still manufacture and sell it in Mexico (until 2030, I believe).

I do feel for guys who own HVAC companies. It's expensive to send guys out in trucks and good techs (who can accurately diagnose problems) are in short supply. Plus you've got to carry them in the months when folks aren't using their AC's.

EDIT: No joke about the current cost of R-454B. I just went to price some and that's just insane.