What is R-410A?

Why it matters to you

If your Greater Houston system was installed between about 2010 and 2024, it most likely runs on R-410A. The refrigerant transition changes what you can buy next — not whether your current system can keep running and be repaired.

Practical guidance

Confirm the refrigerant on your outdoor unit's data plate. If anyone tells you that you must buy a new R-410A system before a January 2026 deadline, that information is out of date: EPA removed that installation deadline in May 2026.

Can R-410A systems still be installed in 2026?

Yes, in some cases. An EPA final rule published in the Federal Register on May 26, 2026 (document 2026-10387) removed the January 1, 2026 installation deadline for new R-410A residential split systems, so equipment manufactured before 2025 may be installed until existing stock is used up. The January 1, 2025 manufacturing and import cutoff still stands, so that supply is finite.

Can my existing R-410A system still be repaired and recharged?

Yes. The refrigerant transition governs which new equipment can be made and installed; it does not stop technicians from repairing systems already in homes. After a leak is found and fixed, a licensed technician can recharge an R-410A system with R-410A for the rest of its working life.

Is the May 2026 R-410A rule change settled?

Not entirely. The May 2026 rule is being challenged in court, so the situation could change again. Some older pages online, including ones that have not been updated, still describe the January 2026 installation deadline as if it were in force, so check the date on anything you read before making a decision that depends on it.

What refrigerant replaces R-410A in new systems?

New residential systems mainly use R-32 or R-454B, lower-global-warming refrigerants that are both classified A2L, meaning lower toxicity and mild flammability. Under the UL 60335-2-40 safety standard, many A2L installations require a refrigerant detection system. Goodman's current residential split systems use R-32.

Can I put R-32 or R-454B into my R-410A system?

No. Refrigerants are not interchangeable, and a system should only be charged with the refrigerant it was designed and rated for; the wrong refrigerant can damage the compressor. Replacing only the outdoor unit with A2L equipment generally means replacing the matching indoor coil too, so plan to discuss both.

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