Nationwide shortage of new AC refrigerant hits as Arizona heats up

PHOENIX — As Arizona braces for another hot summer, a nationwide shortage of a newly mandated air conditioning refrigerant is causing problems for contractors and could delay AC installations for some Valley homeowners.

The refrigerant in short supply is called R-454B, one of two eco-friendly alternatives that became mandatory in all new home air conditioning systems beginning in January. The change comes from a 2020 law signed by President Donald Trump, which was part of a bipartisan effort to phase out older refrigerants with high global warming potential.

But now, supply chain issues are making R-454B difficult to find.

“The shortage cause is not the actual refrigerant, it’s the actual bottles that hold the refrigerant,” said Eric Guyton, HVAC operations manager at Goettl Air Conditioning and Plumbing. “They’re having some manufacturing issues with the bottles, so they’re not able to distribute the refrigerant.”

Guyton said the shortage is already being felt by some contractors, particularly those working on new construction or replacing aging units.

“A lot of them are putting the unit in, hoping the bottles are going to show up so they can charge them up,” Guyton said. “But we’re getting to the point now where it’s about a little too late.”

Worthington Enterprises, a major U.S. manufacturer of refrigerant cylinders, provided the following statement to 12News: 

“Production and deployment of new A2L A/C units created a surge in demand that not all parts of the supply chain were prepared to meet. Worthington Enterprises increased cylinder production during this load-in phase. Through the hard work of our U.S. employees, customers that placed advance orders received on-time delivery. Customers that are placing orders now are receiving orders within the promised delivery timeframe. We anticipate the leveling-off period to occur later this summer once the market has desired inventory levels on hand.”

While contractors wait for supplies to stabilize, the rising summer temperatures aren’t slowing down. That’s why Guyton recommends homeowners act quickly if they’re considering an AC upgrade.

“If you’re thinking about doing something—whether it’s with us or someone else—you should probably do it sooner than you planned,” Guyton said. 

Goettl has largely avoided supply issues because the company installs AC systems that use R-32, the other approved refrigerant, which remains in good supply—for now.

“As supplies get lower, unfortunately, prices start to go up,” Guyton said. “We feel it, and unfortunately, the customers are going to feel it too.”

There’s some relief for those with older systems. Units that use R-410A, the previous industry standard, can still be serviced and repaired. However, that refrigerant will also be phased out in the coming years, likely making those repairs more expensive in the long run.

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