{"id":1268,"date":"2025-01-31T19:26:44","date_gmt":"2025-01-31T19:26:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.www.unitedairtemp.com\/baltimore-md-area\/?p=1268"},"modified":"2025-06-04T13:44:25","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T13:44:25","slug":"2025-changes-to-freon-requirements-for-maryland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unitedairtemp.com\/baltimore-md-area\/blog\/2025-changes-to-freon-requirements-for-maryland\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2025 Changes to Freon Requirements Explained for Maryland Homeowners"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"HVAC<\/p>\r\n

Thanks to Baltimore’s humid summers and cold winters, Maryland homeowners need efficient and effective HVAC systems to provide maximum comfort year-round. However, with rising concerns about global warming and our environment, there has been more focus recently on how our nation can lower our carbon footprint without sacrificing home comfort.<\/p>\r\n

As part of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020, the U.S. is phasing out the manufacturing and import of refrigerants that produce greenhouse gasses to promote more environmentally friendly alternatives and technologies.<\/p>\r\n

As a result, Baltimore homeowners who purchase an air conditioner<\/a>, ductless mini-split<\/a>, or heat pump<\/a> after 2025 will notice a rise in cost due to these new regulations.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

In this article, the experts at United Air Temp discuss why HVAC costs are on the rise and the impact new refrigerant requirements will make on consumers and the HVAC industry.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

Why Are HVAC Equipment Costs Rising?<\/h2>\r\n

Homeowners who haven’t replaced an HVAC system in over a decade may experience sticker shock when they see the current cost of new equipment. Plus, these prices are expected to keep rising.<\/p>\r\n

Stricter environmental regulations have had the greatest impact on pricing. These regulations require that manufacturers use eco-friendly, low-GWP (Global Warming Potential) refrigerants like A2L and energy-efficient technologies, all of which are expensive to produce.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

Manufacturers are seeing a rise in costs by creating equipment compliant with new refrigerant regulations and meeting updated efficiency standards. Retooling and redesigning systems to meet the minimum required SEER2 or HSPF2 leads to higher production costs, which are then passed on to the customer.<\/p>\r\n

In addition, the cost of refrigerants alone has quadrupled while raw materials like copper line sets, PVC piping, and more have also increased. When combined with supply chain disruptions due to transport delays, labor shortages, and overall higher consumer demand, new HVAC systems have become an even bigger investment for homeowners.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

R-22 vs. R-410A vs. R-454B<\/h2>\r\n

The HVAC industry has used various refrigeration options as it has attempted to move toward options that are less harmful to the environment and the ozone layer.<\/p>\r\n