Summer is here, and with rising temperatures comes a surge in demand for air conditioning. But homeowners looking to install or repair their AC units may face a costly surprise.

Prices are already high, and now they're being pushed even higher by tariffs and upcoming changes to energy efficiency standards.

Contractors and homeowners alike are struggling to find affordable refrigerant and the specialized containers needed to transport it.

The new refrigerant, called R-454B, is formulated for new systems to meet new EPA requirements. All air conditioning systems manufactured after Jan. 1 have to adhere to the standards with lower global warming potential (GWP).

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Compared to previous generations of refriger

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