HARDI: A2L Equipment Surpasses 50% of Market Share

Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International has reported the HVACR industry has reached a significant milestone in its transition to lower-global warming potential refrigerants. According to HARDI’s April 2025 Unitary Market Intelligence Report, central ducted HVAC systems using A2L refrigerants accounted for 51% of sales, with preliminary May data indicating further growth to 60%.

The Unitary Market Intelligence Report uses automated submissions of distributor sales data to model the national, regional and state-level HVAC market. The transition has accelerated since November 2024, when A2L-based equipment made up less than 5% of the market.

Even with rapid adoption, the transition has been complicated by a rule from the Environmental Protection Agency that links compliance deadlines to installation dates instead of the date of manufacture or import. This regulatory structure unnecessarily burdens distributors unable to sell their R-410A inventory, adding unwanted complexity, inefficiency and risk to the supply chain.

As the industry adapts to new regulatory requirements, HARDI continues to support a stable, market-based transition that preserves consumers’ ability to repair existing systems while efficiently filling the supply chain with new systems for installation. Check out HARDI’s R-454B Shortage page, highlighting the HVACR industry’s efforts to help mitigate market disruptions.