Refrigerant Shortage Hits Commercial Jobsites

The transition to low-GWP refrigerants was supposed to be the start of a smarter, cleaner chapter in HVAC. But if you’ve been chasing down R-454B cylinders lately, you know it’s turned into something else: a whole lot of phone calls, workarounds, and waiting

Even as manufacturers crank out A2L systems preloaded with R-454B, aftermarket refrigerant is in short supply.

Here’s what’s happening and what it means for your business.

The Problem Isn’t the Refrigerant. It’s the Cylinder

The units are here. They’re charged. They’re ready. But if you need to top off a line or return later to complete a job, good luck finding R-454B in a tank.

Distributors across the country report the same issue: shipments delayed, purchase orders in limbo, no clear lead times. Some say not to expect a real fix until Q1 2026.

A lot of it comes down to a basic supply chain hiccup—there simply aren’t enough containers.

And with tariffs adding to import costs, even when stock becomes available, it may not come cheap.

The Commercial Contractor Catch-22

Distributors like Gustave A. Larson Co. are limiting how much R-454B contractors can buy, and in some cases, you can’t get it unless you’re also buying an outdoor unit.

That’s left many commercial teams with a dilemma: either hold off on installs or send techs back to the same job twice. Neither option is good for scheduling, profitability, or morale.

It’s not just about today’s job. It’s about how much slack your summer can take before project flow slows down entirely.

What Distributors Are Saying

Some, like Meier Supply in New York, are skating by with leftover R-410A inventory. Others are putting customers on allocation or capping refrigerant purchases at a few cylinders per invoice.

Watsco believes the issue is temporary; they’re betting the container shortage clears up by June. But even they’ve acknowledged that R-454B is now “increasingly difficult to obtain” and everyone is on allocation.

Across the board, the message is clear: supply is tight, and everyone’s being cautious.

What You Can Do Now

Until the backlog clears, the smartest play is preparation. That means:

• 1
  Stay in close touch with your distributor. Make sure they know your job pipeline, and keep asking about allocation strategies.
• 2
  Document your needs. For project quotes and upcoming installs, forecast refrigerant volume early. Put it on paper. You may need it to secure supply.
• 3
  Tighten up install workflows. Try to avoid situations where techs need to return later to complete charges. Double-check line set sizing, refrigerant compatibility, and charge requirements upfront.
• 4
  Communicate with customers. If an install delay is possible, get ahead of it. Setting expectations beats rescheduling under stress.

Commercial teams don’t always have the luxury of waiting around. But with some coordination—and heads-up planning—you can still ride this one out without letting it derail your summer.