A2L Equipment Reaches 90% of Market Share at End of Cooling Season
Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International announced that the HVACR industry has nearly completed its transition to lower-global warming potential refrigerants in central ducted systems. According to HARDI’s Unitary Market Intelligence Report, low-GWP A2L equipment accounted for 91% of distributor sales in September 2025, capping a yearlong acceleration that began with single-digit adoption at the end of 2024.
Despite the industry’s rapid adoption of A2L equipment, many distributors still hold limited R-410A inventory, which is at risk due to the installation prohibition in the EPA’s Technology Transition Rule. Under current rules, certain categories of residential and light commercial equipment may not be installed after specific deadlines, even if the equipment was manufactured before those dates and purchased in good faith.
To address this issue, HARDI has expressed support for the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to repeal the prohibition on installing these products based on their installation date. The change would allow distributors to responsibly sell through their remaining R-410A inventory without creating unnecessary waste or financial loss.
HARDI is also encouraging EPA to evaluate and remove other installation and sell-through provisions affecting additional product categories. Consistent, predictable rules across all HVACR segments would better support a stable, market-based transition while minimizing disruptions for contractors, distributors and consumers.
Learn more at https://hardinet.org/.
