Updated October 2026 · by Murugan Vellaichamy · every date and figure checked against EPA and eCFR
| Refrigerant | Where you find it | GWP (EPA) | Safety class (EPA SNAP) | New systems | Servicing existing systems |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R-22 (HCFC-22) | US systems built before 2010 | 1,810 | — | Banned (EPA banned new R-22 equipment) | Allowed, using recovered or stockpiled R-22 only |
| R-410A | Most systems built 2010–2024 | 2,088 | A1 | Not allowed from Jan 1, 2025, unless every component was made or imported before 2025 | Allowed; service parts still made, labelled for existing equipment only |
| R-454B | Many 2025+ systems | 465 | A2L | Allowed (GWP under 700) | — |
| R-32 | Many 2025+ systems, especially ductless | 675 | A2L | Allowed (GWP under 700) | — |
GWP values are from EPA’s Technology Transitions reference table (R-410A, R-454B, R-32) and EPA’s ozone-depleting substances table (R-22, 100-year AR4). EPA’s SNAP page rounds R-410A to 2,090 and lists R-454B at 470. A1 means non-flammable; A2L means lower flammability.
Separately from the equipment rules, EPA caps how much HFC (the family R-410A belongs to) can be produced and imported, as a share of a historical baseline:
| Years | HFC allowance (% of baseline) |
|---|---|
| 2022–2023 | 90% |
| 2024–2028 | 60% |
| 2029–2033 | 30% |
| 2034–2035 | 20% |
| 2036 on | 15% |
You can keep using it and repair it, including replacing major parts. Every recharge uses recovered or stockpiled R-22, so a large leak is usually the point where replacement makes more sense than repair. Check its age with the serial number age lookup.
Repairs are fine, and EPA treats replacing the outdoor unit on its own as a repair that can use a like R-410A unit. Replacing both the outdoor unit and the indoor coil counts as a new system, even if the refrigerant lines stay, so it must meet the new rules unless every component was made or imported before 2025.
Expect R-454B or R-32. Both are A2L refrigerants that EPA accepts for new equipment with use conditions, so installers follow the manufacturer’s instructions for that system. Manufacturers generally sell matched indoor and outdoor units; ask your installer whether your existing coil and line set can be kept, because that depends on the specific equipment. Size it first with the tonnage calculator or the heat pump size calculator.
The rating plate on the outdoor unit lists the refrigerant type and charge. The model number lookup shows you where that plate is for each brand.
Yes. EPA says owners do not have to stop using or replace R-22 equipment, and it can be repaired. Since 2020 no new R-22 is produced or imported, so repairs rely on recovered or stockpiled refrigerant, which keeps getting scarcer and more expensive.
Not for existing systems. From January 1, 2025, new residential AC and heat pump systems must use a refrigerant with a GWP below 700. R-410A (GWP about 2,090) can still be used to service existing systems, and systems whose components were all made or imported before 2025 may still be installed.
There was, under a December 2023 rule. EPA removed it in a final rule published May 26, 2026, so equipment made or imported before 2025 can be installed until the supply runs out. Some pages, including older EPA pages, still show the 2026 date.
No. EPA treats replacing the condensing unit alone as a repair, and a like R-410A unit can be used. Replacing both the outdoor unit and the indoor coil counts as installing a new system, even if the refrigerant lines stay.
It is the ASHRAE safety class EPA lists for R-454B and R-32: lower toxicity and lower flammability. EPA lists both as acceptable for new equipment subject to use conditions, so installation must follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Official sources only, checked October 2026.
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