The restoration and remediation industry, like most of the HVAC industry, is plagued by a confusing set of new rules aimed at phasing out R-410A and other refrigerants used in our dehumidifiers. This article seeks to clarify this confusing regulatory landscape as we all prepare for the 2025 refrigerant changeover deadline.

Background

In late 2020, Congress passed the AIM Act to limit climate-damaging hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) use in the HVAC industry, but the EPA was unable to publish an implementation plan until recently. This inaction spurred California and Washington state to seize the refrigerant phaseout initiative by passing their own regulations with earlier phaseout dates for select pieces equipment, like residential dehumidifiers.

Refrigerant Selection and Compliance

New refrigerants must meet two criteria:

1. GWP of 700 or less per EPA regulation
2. Approved by the EPA for the application

Table 1 lists common refrigerants with GWP’s below 700 that also have approval for use in dehumidifiers. Any of these refrigerants could be used under the regulations set by CA, WA or the EPA.

Among manufacturers of residential dehumidifiers, typically sold through big box retail channels, R- 32 and R-513A appear to be the refrigerants of choice.

Manufacturers of larger dehumidifiers, like the rest of the air conditioning industry, are favoring R- 454B with a few opting for R-32. R-454B is a blend of 69% R-32 and 31% R-1234yf that provides a lower GWP and operating characteristics similar to R-410A.

Phaseout by Application

All three regulations set an effective date for refrigerant phaseout based on the application of the HVAC equipment. For the restoration and remediation industry, the EPA’s date of 1/1/2025 is the only one that matters. Some confusion has arisen in California and Washington by earlier phaseout dates issued for residential dehumidifiers. Table 2 provides a summary of the effective phaseout date for each dehumidifier application listed by the states and EPA.

Regardless of the application, the EPA’s phaseout date means all dehumidifiers will need to be converted to a refrigerant with a GWP less than 700 by 1/1/2025 to be sold in the US.

For a comprehensive overview of these regulations and their implications, please read the full article on our website.