Things never seem to get cheaper, and if you're looking to replace an HVAC system in the coming year, your wallet is going to take a hit.
New regulations designed to help curb global warming are the reason for the price increase in 2025.
“We're looking at about 30%, 40%, 50% more than we were six months ago,” said Chris Rich, a regional service coordinator at Dealer Supply who has been training technicians on the new machines over the past year.
That's why a homeowner in northwest Atlanta rushed to have equipment fabricated to install a new upstairs HVAC unit in 2024.
Federal regulations now require equipment manufactured in 2025 and beyond to use a more efficient and environmentally friendly refrigerant—and that comes at a price.
The same thing happened in the industry in the 1990s – older refrigerants were phased out due to concerns about ozone depletion.
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Now the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency believes it's more harmful to global warming, and that's exactly the reason for this latest change – making new equipment that uses refrigerants with lower global warming potential.
So what should you do? Channel 2 Wendy Corona Rich asked that very question.
“When they get to the 10- to 12-year mark, there are a lot of small repairs. “You have to be very careful about how much money you spend on the repairs because if you start doing expensive repairs at this point, you should think about putting that money into a new system,” Rich said.
Most systems have a lifespan of around 15 years. If your device still works, don't worry about it, but be aware that you will be replacing it in the future with a system that is subject to new Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
Don't want to incur any costs? Then make maintenance a priority.
“Most of the repairs and failures I see are due to lack of maintenance,” Rich said.
2024 units can be sold for the next year until sold out. First of all, they are cheaper, and spare parts and refrigerants are still readily available.
Although the newer systems cost significantly more, their efficiency can lead to savings in the long run.