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1 week ago | 
achrnews.com | Joanna R. Turpin
Manufacturer ReportsNewsRefrigerationRefrigerants As HVAC contractors gear up for another busy cooling season, many have faced challenges securing R-454B, the low-GWP refrigerant replacing R-410A in new residential and light commercial HVAC systems. They are also concerned about how tariffs will affect the price and availability of HVAC equipment. In their Q1 2025 earnings reports, several major OEMs — including Trane, Carrier, and Lennox — touched on one or both issues.
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1 week ago | 
achrnews.com | Joanna R. Turpin
However, even if the federal government rolls back or delays regulations, that doesn’t mean the HVACR industry is off the hook. States still have the authority to implement their own environmental policies -- and many are already doing just that. California, for example, has been a leader in phasing down HFCs and enacting aggressive greenhouse gas reduction targets. New York and Washington have followed suit with their own regulations on refrigerants, energy efficiency, and emissions.
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2 weeks ago | 
achrnews.com | Joanna R. Turpin
NewsRefrigerationRefrigerants The regulatory landscape for the HVACR industry is shifting rapidly, driven by evolving political priorities and regulatory agendas in Washington, D.C. Speaking at the recent International Institute of All-Natural Refrigeration (IIAR) conference in Phoenix, Arizona, Lowell Randal, senior vice president of government and legal affairs at the Global Cold Chain Alliance and president of The Randel Group in Alexandria, Virginia, provided a comprehensive outlook at...
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2 weeks ago | 
achrnews.com | Joanna R. Turpin
NewsRefrigerationRefrigerants HVACR distributors across the U.S. are grappling with a growing shortage of R-454B in cylinders, even as new equipment — already pre-charged with the refrigerant — remains readily available.
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4 weeks ago | 
achrnews.com | Joanna R. Turpin
In the April announcement, Honeywell explained that the sharp price increase for R-454B is due to “unprecedented demand” that domestic production alone cannot meet.
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1 month ago | 
achrnews.com | Joanna R. Turpin
high-efficiency, inverter-driven, side-discharge, R-32, split-system Serviceability features: Engineered to make installation more flexible and servicing easier, Fit systems are full of contractor-friendly features, including: Daikin control algorithmic logic; diagnostic indicator lights with seven-segment LED display and fault code storage; Daikin Inside intelligence for diagnostics; coil/ambient temperature sensors; suction pressure transducer; Intelligent Defrost mode; hot start...
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1 month ago | 
achrnews.com | Joanna R. Turpin
NewsRefrigeration Thousands of HVACR contractors and industry professionals recently convened in Orlando, Florida, for the three-day AHR Expo. The annual event provided manufacturers with a platform to showcase their latest innovations, including controls, coolers, compressors, and other solutions designed for the commercial refrigeration market. Embraco revealed its new monoblock concept, which is currently in development.
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1 month ago | 
achrnews.com | Joanna R. Turpin
Many believe that after A2Ls, R-290 (propane), a flammable A3 refrigerant, will be the primary candidate for comfort cooling applications. As evidence, they point to Europe and the United Kingdom (UK), where manufacturers already offer air-to-water heat pumps using R-290. However, the U.S. market is different, as ducted air-to-air systems dominate the residential sector, which would mean using a flammable refrigerant inside the home.
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1 month ago | 
achrnews.com | Joanna R. Turpin
Megan Zamora, manager at Climate Control Systems in Frankfort, Illinois, just recently became aware of the R-454B shortage. Since it's still chilly in the Chicago area and demand for air conditioners is a few months away, the shortage has not yet affected her company. “Most of the supply houses were still selling off the R-410A inventory until about six weeks ago,” she said.
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1 month ago | 
achrnews.com | Joanna R. Turpin
Even though the political winds have changed since the last presidential election, most manufacturers remain confident that electrification will continue to be a key trend. Infinitum, for example, expects to see skyrocketing growth in electrification, said Stephen Mathew, director of product management at Infinitum.
