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Flair 2022 Newsletter



In 2022, Flair will be celebrating 55 years in business. In today’s world this is indeed a special occasion. Our goal has always been to provide professional and courteous services at an affordable price and to firmly stand behind our workmanship.

We have been able to remain in business because of our customers who have given us the opportunity to service their air conditioning, heating, commercial refrigeration, and ventilation needs and we are truly grateful to all of them.

Supply Problems

2021 saw major supply issues from all manufacturers and material suppliers. We experienced equipment shortages and still are today as manufacturers try to catch up on lost production because of COVID as well as material shortages needed to manufacture equipment. Things are improving but will not be back to normal for some time.

We also experienced parts shortages, which demanded us to stay aggressive requiring us to buy from numerous vendors during these times. We still are experiencing delays on some parts, especially circuit boards. With all this going on, manufacturers and suppliers have raised their prices multiple times during the year and effective January 1st, 2022, almost everyone has new prices going into effect.

New Efficiency Standards

In 2023 new energy efficiency requirements will go into effect which includes the new Department of Energy standards utilizing new metrics for testing the efficiency of new AC and Heat Pumps. The current standards for the south are 14.0 SEER but will change to 15.0 SEER for Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps.

Every six years the D.O.E reanalyzes the effects of energy usage, sets minimum efficiency requirements, and testing standards by which those efficiencies are measured.

Additionally, new testing procedures will go into effect that will more accurately reflect field conditions. The new standards will be SEER 2 (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio), EER 2 (Energy Efficiency Rating), and HSPF 2 (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor). Currently, test procedures are measured in ideal conditions in a lab using set conditions which usually doesn’t match installed conditions. The new standards mean units will be more efficient and use less electricity.

EPA Slashes HFC-Refrigerant


The EPA is sharply cutting the production of HFC (Hydrofluorocarbons), refrigerants currently widely used in Air Conditioning and refrigeration due to their greenhouse effect on our planet. Their production will be reduced by 85% within the next 15 years. The EPA said the rule could reduce global warming by up to .5° Celsius.

Due to these production cuts and the shortage of chemicals that make up the HFC refrigerants, the price has increased drastically this past year. Prices we are quoted are usually only good for 48 hours. We have seen an increase of over 600% in our cost this past year.

New Refrigerant Coming


As mentioned in our newsletter last year and due to the curtailment of the current refrigerant being used, a new refrigerant is projected to be used in all air conditioning manufactured as early as January 1st, 2025. This is the date some states have indicated they want to start enforcing the proposed phase down of high Global Warming Potential Refrigerant (GWP) in new A/C and Heat Pump systems.

The Current refrigerant that is most common in A/C and Heat Pump units is R-410, with a Global warming of 2088. The amendment to the United Nations protocol calls for refrigerants that have a GWP at a maximum level of 750. Carrier is testing a refrigerant named Puron Advance which is R-454B. This is classified as an A2L refrigerant having low toxicity and low flammability. This new refrigerant is more flammable than R-410 but less flammable than propane or natural gas. This new refrigerant is currently in testing and in time we’ll see if this will be the new refrigerant that will be used in new A/C and Heat Pump systems.

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve your air conditioning and heating needs. We sincerely appreciate your business.

Sincerely,
Thomas P McGuire
President