January 1, Biden AC Mandate Raises Costs Fires Up Backlash

Wyatt’s Take

• New federal rule forces replacement of AC refrigerant R-410A.
• Cost for new systems has soared, and safety worries are up.
• Actual drop in global temperature is too tiny to matter.

Folks are paying a whole lot more for air conditioning this year because of a mandate from the Biden administration’s EPA. The rule forces the swap of a tried-and-true refrigerant for new ones that cost more and have bigger fire risks, all for a climate impact too small to even notice.

Since 2010, R-410A has helped cool American homes safely and affordably. Now, industry insiders say changes brought on by the new rule are adding about $1,500 to every new system, thanks to equipment redesigns and pricier, trickier refrigerants.

“This (Biden administration) mandate has increased costs by $1,500 per system on average,” says Martin Hoover, president of Atlanta-based Empire Heating & Air Conditioning.

To make matters worse, supplies of the EPA’s approved refrigerants are running low, so prices keep climbing. Homeowners who used to pay $5,000 for a new HVAC install might now fork over as much as $14,000. These changes hit the wallets of millions of Americans replacing their units each year.

Scientists say the reduction in global warming from this rule is so tiny it can’t be measured. Dr. Frits Byron Soepyan from the CO2 Coalition says, “(T)he selection of the refrigerants for air conditioning systems should be based on both the safety and the needs of the consumers, rather than on a purported environmental benefit.”

Some want the ban reversed, arguing it would help everyday families. In the meantime, higher costs and safety questions are what Americans have been left with.

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Wyatt Matters

Everyday Americans deserve affordable, safe options for heating and cooling their homes. When regulations make basic needs harder to afford, it’s working folks who pay the price.