R-410A EPA Mandate And How It Affects You as a Home Buyer or Seller

Twenty years ago the federal government passed legislation that would become effective on Jan. 1, 2010 which would ban the manufacturing of HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) equipment that primarily uses Freon, also known as R-22 and HCFC-22. Those companies must now begin manufacturing parts that are compatible with products such as Puron, also known as R-410A which is the new standard refrigerant for air conditioners. This change will affect you as a buyer or a seller of a home.

This change will cost you more money. Since R-22 parts are now banned from being manufactured, parts are expected to be out of stock by the second quarter of 2010. If for example, your evaporator coil goes out and a suitable part is no longer available, you may have to replace the entire HVAC unit. R-410A parts are not always interchangeable with R-22 parts. Physical changes may be needed to your system in order for it to accommodate the larger equipment required in air conditioners using R-410A refrigerant. The supply of R-22 will be limited and will likely cause the price to increase. As a result of the new changes, new HVAC equipment may be more expensive to purchase and install.

Another way that this might cost you more money is that most manufacturers warranties only cover parts for one year, in most cases. Labor is a significant part of any repair. Most system and appliance home service contracts and/or warranties contain language that effectively excludes the additional costs resulting from this government-mandated change.

How can you protect yourself as a buyer or seller of a home? Your best option is to have a home warranty as part of the transaction. Not all home warranty companies are the same, however, 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty does cover the cost of a replacement unit if a suitable part is not available. Certain qualifications apply, but in most cases they will be able to replace your unit with no extra cost to you. For more information on this change and how it will affect you, feel free to contact me or go to www.R410ASolutions.com.

If you are located in Nashville, Franklin, Spring Hill, Columbia or Nashville, TN outlying cities and would like to speak to an agent directly about your situation, you can contact me at steve@steveblair.net.