Stay on Top of Rising Refrigerant Prices

Your residential air conditioning system uses refrigerant, a chemical that allows the system to cool your home. While an AC system’s refrigerant supply is self-contained, leaks do occasionally develop. If you’ve recently tried to service or even tune-up your air conditioner, you might have noticed a sharp increase in prices. Since the beginning of this year, refrigerant costs have steadily increased from $70 a pound to over $300 per pound in some cases. 

Why is this happening? While higher prices can be a result of supply shortages, this is not the case. These recent changes are primarily due to new regulations and international tariffs disrupting the refrigerant market. Continue reading below for further information about why costs are up. 

Fortunately, There’s No Shortage 

While the overall supply of refrigerant is stable, the unexpected jump in price concerned some distributors. Buying in bulk was no longer as cost effective as it generally was. Many companies slowed their purchases as a result. And in some cases, customers who regularly placed large orders have been temporarily restricted from doing so. This ensures more customers have access to the refrigerant they need. Waiting for prices to stabilize may appear to be a supply shortage, but the industry is merely being cautious. 

So Why Are Costs Rising? 

Higher refrigerant prices are a direct result of other countries competing against the U.S. economy. Other countries abroad are subsidizing their own refrigerant production, which lets them influence the U.S. markets with an artificially inexpensive supply. When these policies are successful, U.S. manufacturers are pushed out of the market, after which the global supply is controlled by another country. This is known as “dumping” and can result in economic monopolies. 

In an attempt to combat these policies, the U.S. government responded with anti-dumping tariffs and made them retroactive to June 18, 2019. Suppliers suddenly have larger expenses to pay on past product, and there is some confusion around future pricing as well. This is causing the price on available refrigerant to rise and fluctuate while the industry adapts. Currently refrigerants entering the country are subject to a tax of around 210% percent. The U.S. could replenish refrigerant stockpiles through European markets, but costs there are similarly prohibitive. Even with tariffs in place, European refrigerant is still more expensive. 

R125 Is a Chemical Component of today’s Refrigerants 

The issue is further complicated by monopoly control of R125, a key component in many different refrigerants. Manufacturing the most common refrigerant, R410A, requires R125. R125 is also affected by the anti-dumping tariff, leaving American companies with very little options. 

Will This Affect New Refrigerants and HVAC Equipment? 

Some industry professionals are waiting to see if the increase in price affects the adoption of new refrigerants. A formal transition to newly developed refrigerants is scheduled for 2022, but it is unclear if the anti-dumping tariffs will hamper the rollout. 

Similar to how the U.S. phased out R22 refrigerant over a period of 10 years, R410a will be gradually replaced by more effective and environmentally-friendly alternatives like R32. The 10-year transition allows the industry time to adjust. When R410a compatible systems start to break down, R32 and other A2L refrigerants should be much more readily available. 

Environmental policy like the Montreal Protocol could also influence future prices. Provisions drafted for this legislation dictate that refrigerant prices must steadily increase to spur the transition to R32. As R410a is phased out, the higher costs also reflect the diminishing global supply. 

You May Not Be Able to Avoid Overpaying, But We’ll Help Minimize Risk 

Finding a leak in your refrigerant supply is already frustrating without the punishingly high costs. Local service companies like Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning are taking steps to help their customers avoid these increased costs. We’ll do our best to maintain a steady supply of refrigerant while offering guidance on cost effective solutions for staying cool and comfortable. Give us a call today at 954-736-4314 for more information.