SOME air conditioners could be banned entirely soon for Americans as part of a rule first introduced a few years ago.
It was specifically implemented to protect the environment.
Finalized by former President Joe Biden’s administration in 2023, the use of certain gases in refrigerators and air conditioning units was restricted, as the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that they were contributing to ozone depletion.
Those gases are hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which have been used in cooling and refrigeration for years but are powerful pollutants, per the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).
Hydrofluorocarbons are thousands of times more powerful than carbon dioxide and trap heat much better, hence the usage in systems that attempt to cool.
On August 1, 2025, a federal appeals court rejected arguments against the restriction of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) from several top refrigerant manufacturers, per Reuters.
The manufacturers claimed that the rule was invalid that the move from the EPA to get the legislation past was unconstitutional.
Still, a three-judge panel with the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied the appeal.
The ongoing rule is also a provision to the 2020 American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act, a law that seeks to reduce production and consumption of HFCs by 85% as of 2036.
Since the finalizing of the rule in 2023, there has been a nationwide shortage of refrigerants, and a prominent new one known as 454B won’t work with older AC systems.
CONSUMER COST
This has meant either replacements or repairs for many Americans to adjust, which has become costly, according to James Langley, owner of Las Vegas-based HVAC company We Care Air.
“The mandate is calling for a lower GWP — Global Warming Potential refrigerant,” he explained to CBS affiliate KLAS this summer.
“That’s what 454B is. For us, our install guys have to use different installation tools and adjust our pricing.”
“Prices of units have gone up by 30 to 40%,” Langley added.
According to the expert, it’s also left room for some companies to price gouge homeowners and renters, as they know there’s no alternative sometimes but new units that will be able to handle the rule-abiding refrigerant.
“Let’s say, I came to your home and your compressor is out,” Langley told the outlet.
Air conditioner tips to keep you cool this summer
Here are some tips to get your air conditioner to pay off without exactly making you pay more, per Apartment Therapy:
- Move electronics away from your thermostat as they may confuse it and make it think the room is hotter than it is
- Keep your A/C unit shaded
- Make sure to clean your A/C filter
- Leave your thermostat be
- Try not to move your vents too much
- Check your airducts
- Use your fan
“We can change that compressor, but now there are those who will charge you double because your only alternative is to get a whole new system which is even more.”
He also said that some components for HVAC units like “cylinders” aren’t being manufactured fast enough to keep up with the demand of refrigerant needed for the new units.
TARIFF TURMOIL
Tensions amid the US and China with global reciprocal tariffs also made the situation worse, as many of those components are imported.
“Eighty percent of the refrigerant gas we need today is now coming from China. That’s 100% against Trump’s initiative, Jorge Alvarez, co-founder of iGas USA, told NewsNation.
“A 5-ton air conditioning system a year ago installed used to cost roughly $8,000 today.”
“That exact same system is a minimum of $11,000,” he added.
Alvarez also estimated refrigerant cost to be up 600% as of 2025.
Energy bills are also the highest they’ve been in over a decade for the summer months this year.
There’s a “vampire solution” that can help cut $200 off the costs, and offer at least four other little-known benefits.
At least five simple mistakes could also be contributing to high bills.
