What the R32 Refrigerant Ban Means for Perth Homeowners

If you have heard talk of a "refrigerant ban" and wondered whether you need to do something about it, here is the good news up front: if you already own an Air-conditioner, you are not breaking any rule and nothing is being forced on you. What the ban does open up, though, is an opportunity that most Perth homeowners have not caught onto yet and it saves 25 to 40% off what your Air-conditioning costs to run.

Let us clear up what the R32 refrigerant ban actually means and then look at the option worth knowing about.

What is actually banned and what is not

The rules around air-conditioning refrigerant have tightened over several years:

• R22 was banned for new units in 2015.
• R410a was banned for new units in 2025.
• R32 cannot be imported after 2027.

Here is the part that matters most: these bans apply to new units only. If you have an existing Air-conditioner, none of this makes your system illegal. Your Air-conditioner unit can still be legally topped up and serviced and there is no legal requirement to convert or replace anything.

So keeping your current system is completely fine. The interesting question is not whether you have to change, but whether there is a better option now available to you. There is!

The opportunity most homeowners are missing

While the ban itself does not require you to act, it has put a spotlight on something worth your attention: the refrigerant inside your Air-conditioner unit has a direct effect on how efficiently it runs and also on your power bill.

The older man-made chemical refrigerants are poisonous to the atmosphere and more expensive as imports wind down, they will also become harder and more expensive to source over time. The natural alternative does many things at once: it runs more efficiently and it is not tied to a shrinking supply.

That efficiency is where the real value is. By converting your existing Air-conditioner unit to Engas, a natural blended hydrocarbon refrigerant, homeowners can see 25 to 40% electricity savings across both cooling and heating, based on the Engas products. In a Perth climate, where you run your Air-conditioning hard in both seasons, that is a meaningful cut to one of the highest costs on your electricity bill.

Want to know what your Air-conditioner could save? Book a free quotation and find out on a site visit.

Why converting makes sense

Switching to Engas is not a big, disruptive job. It is a Retro-fit, which means:

• No new system to buy. You keep the Air-conditioner you already own.
• Done in a few hours. A qualified technician converts your existing Air-conditioner unit within 2-3 hours, and you carry on using it as normal within hours.
• Savings that last. Once converted, your Air-conditioner keeps running more efficiently for the life of the Air-conditioner.
• Australian-made in Perth. Engas is the only manufacturer of their natural blended hydrocarbon refrigerant in the world.

Put simply, you get a more electricity-efficient, 100% natural Air-conditioner refrigerant without the cost or hassle of replacing your system and you start saving on cooling and heating from day one.

Common questions

Do I have to convert my Air-conditioner?

No. There is no legal requirement. Your existing Air-conditioner unit is fine to keep using. Converting is about saving money and moving to a natural refrigerant, on your own terms.

Can I still get my current refrigerant topped up?

Yes, for now. Existing systems can still be serviced using the stock that remains available.

Why would I convert if I do not have to?

Because there is no fixed deadline forcing your hand, the reason most people do it is simple: they would rather pay less on their power bill and it is a green alternative.

Find out what you could save

The quickest way to see whether a Retro-fit makes sense for your home is a free, no-obligation quotation. We will confirm whether your Air-conditioner unit is a good candidate and give you a clear picture of what you could save across cooling and heating.

Book a free quotation today. It takes minutes to assess your Air-conditioner unit and there is no obligation either way.