What changed
Under the federal AIM Act, the refrigerants used in air conditioning are being phased down in favor of options with a lower global warming potential (GWP). For most new residential and light commercial air conditioners and heat pumps, manufacturers have moved from R-410A to refrigerants such as R-454B and R-32.
The rule applies to new equipment. It does not require anyone to remove a working system.
What you can keep doing
- Run your existing R-410A equipment for the rest of its service life.
- Have it repaired, including refrigerant circuit repairs.
- Buy R-410A for service. It remains available, although supply is being reduced over time and prices tend to rise as it is.
What is different when you replace
The new refrigerants are classified A2L, meaning mildly flammable. Equipment is designed for them, and installation follows specific requirements for charge limits, leak detection and ventilation in some applications. In practice this means:
- Indoor and outdoor units generally must be matched to the same refrigerant. You usually cannot pair a new outdoor unit with an old R-410A coil.
- New equipment tends to cost more than the models it replaced.
- Your contractor needs to be trained on A2L handling and current code.
What about R-22?
R-22 has not been produced or imported since 2020. Units that use it can still run, but any refrigerant has to come from reclaimed stock, and it is expensive. If you have R-22 equipment, a significant leak is usually the point at which replacement makes more financial sense than repair.
How to plan
- Make a list. Every unit, its age and its refrigerant. The nameplate tells you.
- Rank by risk. R-22 units and anything over fifteen years old go to the top.
- Budget in phases. Replacing a few units a year is easier than replacing ten after a bad summer.
- Keep maintaining. A clean, leak-free system lasts longer, whatever refrigerant it uses.
Check before you act. Regulations are updated and can differ by equipment type and jurisdiction. This guide is general information. We confirm the current requirements for your equipment before recommending anything.