What you’re seeing lines up with where the HVAC market is heading overall. Refrigerant pricing right now is less about raw cost and more about availability, regulatory timelines, and what equipment manufacturers are still willing to support. R22 has effectively become a liability in real estate transactions, not because it can’t cool, but because contractors, inspectors, and insurers increasingly treat it as end-of-life equipment with no safe upgrade path.
R410A is in a strange middle ground. It’s still affordable today, but the production cutoff at the end of 2024 and the upcoming installation ban are already affecting parts availability and contractor behavior. That’s why many techs are hesitant to install or even recommend new 410 systems unless there’s a short-term resale strategy involved. From a supply-chain perspective, the smart move has been transitioning early to R454B or R32, especially for attic or high-load systems where efficiency and future compliance matter more.
This also explains why replacing systems proactively, rather than waiting for failure, can make sense when selling a home. Buyers and inspectors are increasingly educated on refrigerant phaseouts, and a newer system using next-gen refrigerants can remove friction during negotiations. Practical guidance around these transitions is becoming more important, and resources focused on Aircon Servicing are helping homeowners and property professionals understand what’s worth fixing versus replacing. There’s some solid, location-agnostic insight on this topic shared through the
website that aligns well with what contractors are seeing on the ground.
At this point, planning replacement timing around seasonal access (basement vs attic) and refrigerant compliance is less about convenience and more about protecting resale value and avoiding supply surprises over the next 12–24 months.
