Owen H: We using R-32 so no stress

Bob B: Asked my supply house yesterday. Two jugs and the only way they would sell it was with an outdoor unit. I’ve been doing this for over 25 years. This is by far the worst transition ever.

Jake H: The shortage is a real thing but it is slowly being released. Only two companies are allowed to make it and they can’t produce enough to meet demand.

Kevin J: The refrigerant is available. It’s a tank shortage

James W: Not in East Texas. My supply house hasn't gotten any yet. They're selling the units but not the refrigerant.

Nathaniel H: The refrigerant is available but the jug and valve for the jug is not. Hence the “shortage.”

John G: Private equity has tentacles everywhere in our industry. They are beholden to shareholders. The smaller companies (family owned) are being squeezed. It’s all about the big gobbling up the dollars.

Ricky S: Well I buy all my equipment from one of the largest suppliers in the country and they can't get it yet. They said 3 to 4 more weeks at earliest but they sure are selling truckloads of the equipment to me lol.

Brian S: It’s become a war between R-32 and R-454B. I did hear R-32 is getting short too.

David J: It’s a nightmare to get in South Carolina.

Rich M: It’s a sad state of affairs that this is even a discussion.

Jousep S: It is not the HVAC equipment manufacturer that implements these refrigerant and SEER changes, it’s the government. Manufacturers are just following the protocols the government (EPA/DOE) asks for. Overall, R-32 is the better replacement refrigerant based off price, efficiency, and proven performance that has been around for many years.

Mason M: The manufacturers have the money and they control the politicians. Don't be fooled into thinking it's the other way around.

Dave C: Mechanical engineer here. This has completely devastated the VRF market in Iowa. The refrigerant being flammable is a no-go. Way too many issues with codes and costs to try to make this crap work. Simple answer is we are no longer using those products. Basically killing the valuable , energy-efficient heat pump systems overnight.

Levi F: Pretty sure it’s the same nationwide. You can only buy a jug if you buy a unit at the same time.

David N: It’s a complete joke. These prices are ridiculous. Especially for the little guy.

Randon R: Most companies that stocked up early are doing just fine.

Jassen T: We can’t get it in Lexington. We are installing units and can’t charge them.

John G: Johnstone Supply has stock.

Mike B: Keeping the customers happy is all I'm worried about.

James W: I got a system that’s two months old. It's been down a week due to a coil leak. I did the repair but I can't finish it because there's no refrigerant.

Alex P: There wouldn't be such a push to more environmentally neutral refrigerants if contractors weren't so ignorant and careless with the handling of refrigerants past and present. If all condensers were recovered before replacement, leaking systems weren't topped off for a quick buck and leaks fixed instead, the amount of losses to the atmosphere wouldn't be so great that all this new stuff would be less urgent. Never underestimate the laziness, ignorance and self-serving nature of a contractor. I know this from observing my peers for nearly two decades now. The current situation is entirely self-created by those who choose to not do things with others and the environment in mind.

Robert G: Another fine example of EPA putting the cart in front of the horse. They should've waited. I hate big government. The EPA pushes their regulations through with no president, no house or no congress. It's pathetic they have so much power.

Michael M: What gets me first is the lack of supply. Second, manufacturing equipment is taking too much time. Buying new tools [if available] is a pain. When R-22 was phased out they did it over a good deal of time. Now you either can't get R-410A equipment or R-454B equipment isn't ready. We don't have this or we don't have that.

Rob G: I have 12 drums of R-454B. Have only cracked open 1 so far.

Jeff H: We got no R-454B anywhere near Nashville.

Bill W: Ordered a jug of R-454B on Thursday for pick up on Monday and that’s the one jug our company is allowed for the month from Johnstone. And we’re one of their top sellers in our area.

Kevin E: Johnstone will only sell one per week.

Dragcolee H: $1000 per tank.

Matt D: Here in Florida, I can only buy one jug a day, if they have any. The supply house will not sell it to anyone that doesn't buy equipment. There is a shortage on tanks and pressure release valves that are on top of tank.

Dick R: Make R-22 Great Again!

George N: None available in Pennsylvania.

Dl N: Kind of funny most R-22 units seemed to do a better job than R-410A. R-410A was more efficient, but I still have an R-22 unit in my house. I haven't replaced it because of two reasons: my installs of R-410A units don’t impress me. The performance seems to lag behind. The other reason is if it’s not broke why fix it? I'm just waiting to see how R-454B or even R-32 turns out. I haven't installed any yet.

Hector G: Purchased one 3 weeks ago for $485.00. Asked yesterday for one, the price is now $1,050.00 plus taxes!

Greg G: Considering the impact of our industry on the economy, I believe there's a significant recession on the horizon. Not only because of the cost issues with refrigerant/equipment change, but add in the tariff/supply chain issues coming down the pike.

David D: We shall soon see either this summer or next. I’m in a resort area and most of the time when a system is low, we would top it off to get it by for the renters so the owner doesn’t lose any rental income, but that won’t be possible with the new refrigerant.

Roy Y: Most of the suppliers are out of the R-454B. They have some equipment but no refrigerants in Louisiana. I’m retiring and just doing service my last year. I could care less about the new stuff.

Joe U: I’m in Southern California and have not heard of any shortages. Propaganda to get you to buy and stock up on it.

Anthony C: To drive up prices, you need first to create a shortage.

Ted DC: We are trying our best to secure our orders we placed last year on R-454B refrigerant cylinders. Over the last month, we have been working diligently to use ALL suppliers to procure R-454B in any size cylinders; some efforts have been successful and others not. All hands on deck! Some of you listened and started procuring cylinders from wherever you could get them, so you have some or enough at this point. Don't stop trying to procure from everywhere if you do not have enough for the season. Also, last week refrigerant prices increased from manufacturers and R-454B is about $650+/20 lb. cylinder from all the distributors in our market. If you have reached out to me, I have you on our allocation list. Our vendors haven't given us specific dates (they are being very vague) however we will be receiving 20 lb. cylinders throughout the summer. How many, not sure! This issue is nationwide and may not resolve itself till the fall, so we need to think outside the box and be prepared if you do not have any R-454B refrigerant at some point.

Scott B: No problems as of yet here in North Texas.

Kevin E: PATHETIC. I am embarrassed as an American. Why don't we join the rest of the world a use single element R-32?

Dave T: Our Johnstone Dealer in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is supposedly selling jugs to dealers only for $1,800 to $2,700 each. Other than that, there aren’t any available. I would guess after this, equipment will become scarce due to the shortage? The transition will be remembered in the future.

Allan P: Easy peasy in Canada.

Bradley C: You really can’t get R-454B? We don’t have any issues. I think we have maybe 20-30 tanks in stock.

Peter C: There is no shortage of R-45B4 refrigerant, it's the specified valve on the tanks. The problem is everyone panics like it's Covid again and buys up all the toilet paper. No one should need more than one tank for five installs if you're dealing in the residential field. There is no service for the A2L yet and all that is needed is during commissioning. It'll be available in time to actually need it if these dummies stop buying it all up. The distributors MUST limit how much is sold to protect all contractors.

William K: We only bring in a couple of pallets at a time at the distribution center. Only shipping a couple of bottles to different branches at a time. I can only assume people are hesitant about having a flammable gas in their units. There's definitely no shortage of R-410A or R-22.

Michael S: Nobody has in Central Florida.

Joseph S: The supply houses are limiting quantity to one can a day for a contractor. Since Covid, the supply houses have been getting a little cocky with the contractors. And the contractor is the backbone of the business.! Proceed with caution! The bridge you burn today…

Maxwell F: $940 in Florida.