HVAC Changes Q&A Session
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Answers to Customers' Questions
Physical Changes in HVAC Equipment
Do air handlers stay the same size?
For the most part, the air handlers will not change in size with the new standard.
How much will the condensing units chassis sizes change?
Goodman units: We can only extract so much performance and so much efficiency in our current chassis sizes. Most likely, it is just going to move up to the next footprint size. So if you are using 26 inch today that may move up to 29 inches; a 29 inch may move up to 35 inches. So, on the condenser, our footprint isn't going to get any larger than our largest one today which is 35 inches.
We really try to focus any size increases on the outdoor side and keep the indoor size the same as much as we can because now we know that there are installation constraints on the indoor side.
AirQuest units: There are minimal increases to the AirQuest units, no more than 1-1/2”
Will spacing between condensing units remain the same as the coils become larger?
We are going to have to maintain the same spacing that we have now. This is just the physics of air circulation. So we won't be able to put them tighter together as their equipment got bigger.
There are no new rules and regulations about spacing. However, as some of these outdoor units increase in size, you may need to make sure that the pads, if you’re installing two outdoors, are spread out and appropriately sized for the equipment. But there isn’t a hard and fast rule or any stated regulation for 2023.
Will full replacements be mandatory?
Full replacements are not mandatory. They will be mandatory for a permitted job but not the day-to-day swapping of condensers where the system will still function. As far as the 2024 products, when we get into the new refrigerant, I'm going to speculate, but we may have to replace the system. At that point, we may be looking at full system changes because of the refrigerant changes.
Right now, if the equipment meets the A2L standard (air handlers will), it may be able to match to an indoor unit, and I know we don't have a plan to change our indoor units dramatically. For the A2L, since R32 and R410A are so close together in operating range, we hope not.
Will the R410A equipment we're using currently still be working in 2023 and not causing problems?
It's very important to make a distinction that 2023 efficiency standard changes and the coming refrigerant changes are two very separate things occurring on different timelines. 2023 is a testing standard change and an increase in minimum efficiency requirements. It is NOT a change in the refrigerant used. The refrigerant changes starting in 2023, will result in new products/SKUs to meet the restrictions beginning in 2025.
Cost Impact for 2023 MRO Budgets
How will these changes impact me as I plan my 2023 budget?
Currently, what we expect is an increase of 15-25% per condensing unit. The air handler sizes are not going to change but there will be different components in them so there will be increased costs associated but, at this time, we do not know all of those.
To give a little context to the budgeting question, consider the impacts of this regulatory change to the products: A much more stringent M1 test standard to be met, requiring a more advanced engineering and design in our products plus the increased efficiency requirements.
HVAC Servicing Questions (Do I need new tools?)
Will anything change in regards to gauges, recovery equipment, and vacuum pumps?
That's going to take place in 2024 when the refrigerants change. So yes, there will be a need for new tools in 2024 and 2025 for installation and service of the units that will be required to move to the A2L listed refrigerants.
Most tools that are bought today or already approved for the A2L refrigerants. If the tools are older, 5+ years old, they will not work. Recovery machines, especially, will not be approved for a 2L refrigerant. Everyone will have to look at their tools and see whether or not they are approved.
R410A has a composition that is about like 50% R32. So the properties are pretty similar but, at the end of the day, there are meaningful differences that will require you to use different equipment such as such as pressure gauges. We do have a very good website R32reasons.com. It has information such as what kind of equipment and tools you need to replace and what's compatible for R410A tools and what you can continue to use once you switch over to R32.
How will 2023 changes impact servicing existing equipment such as just replacing a compressor?
If you're just replacing a part in an existing piece of equipment, you can. However, the main restriction is going to be when you are switching out or replacing a piece of equipment. If you need to install a new system, you need to make sure that you go to AHRI I and be sure that it adheres to the to the new 2023 requirements if you are required to have a permitted install.
2025 HVAC Refrigerant Changes
Will R32 be charged following subcooling calculations?
Yes. Going to a TXV as a metering device will mean everything will use subcooling or weight for the charging calculations.
Will the new 2023 units be future proofed? Will they be something that can be evacuated out and use R32 once that becomes available?
The short answer is no. R32 and R410A, while they do have some similar properties, are different. If I use a compressor that is optimized for R410A and put R32 in there, sure, it may run for a little bit, but because the compressor was optimized for the properties of R410A, that compressor isn't going to last very long with R32. Pressures are a little bit different between the two refrigerants, so that is going to affect operation as well. R32 just can't be dropped in into a R410A system. You will need to use new equipment for R32 and to support this transition in 2025, we will make sure that we start launching these R32 products and get them in the marketplace starting sometime in 2024.
So is it just the indoor coil or does the entire air handler also have to be changed?
In order for the efficiencies to be met, the entire air handler must be changed out. Just replacing the coil doesn’t not meet the standard.