Just finished an air conditioner installation in West Bloomfield running Puron Advance — also known as R-454B — and wanted to share a straightforward breakdown for anyone currently shopping for a new system because the refrigerant question comes up regularly and deserves a clear honest answer.

What Puron Advance actually is:

   •    R-454B is a hydrofluoroolefin blend developed as a next generation replacement for R-410A — the refrigerant that has been standard in residential AC equipment for the past two decades  
   •    Carrier markets it as Puron Advance — their branded name for R-454B used in their equipment  
   •    It is now the standard refrigerant specification in new Carrier residential air conditioning equipment

The environmental improvement:

   •    R-454B has a global warming potential of approximately 148 — compared to R-410A at 2088  
   •    That is a 78% reduction in global warming potential — a meaningful and measurable environmental improvement  
   •    It is also non-ozone depleting and compliant with the AIM Act hydrofluorocarbon phasedown regulations currently being implemented in the United States

The regulatory picture:

   •    The AIM Act is progressively restricting the production and use of high GWP refrigerants in the United States  
   •    R-410A is being phased down — new residential equipment manufactured after January 1st 2025 must use a lower GWP alternative  
   •    A system installed with Puron Advance today is compliant with current regulations and correctly positioned for the regulatory environment over the next 15 to 20 year service life of the equipment  
   •    A system still running R-410A is not going to become immediately illegal to operate — but the supply and cost dynamics of that refrigerant will change as the phasedown progresses

The honest performance picture:

   •    Carrier engineered Puron Advance specifically for their equipment — the performance characteristics are optimized for their systems  
   •    Cooling performance for the homeowner is not meaningfully different from R-410A equipped equipment  
   •    The improvement is environmental and regulatory — not a performance trade-off

After 80 years, 10 Carrier President’s Awards, and over 750,000 successful installations as a fourth generation family business in this community the refrigerant specification on new equipment is something we discuss on every installation. It matters for the long term value of the investment.

Matheson Heating Air Plumbing  
1965 Best Dr  
Commerce Twp, MI 48390  
248-363-4154

Puron Advance refrigerant in new AC systems — what it is, why it matters, and what homeowners should know before buying