The Refrigerant Change, Explained: R-410A, R-32 and R-454B in 2026

Published October 16, 2026 · Reviewed October 16, 2026

Part of our AC Installation & Replacement guides.

What is the refrigerant change?

The refrigerant change is the federal shift away from R-410A, the refrigerant used in most home air conditioners and heat pumps for the past two decades, toward lower-global-warming refrigerants such as R-32 and R-454B. It comes from the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act, under which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is phasing down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), the family of chemicals R-410A belongs to.

Refrigerant is the fluid that carries heat out of your home. It is sealed inside the copper lines and coils of your system and is not something that gets used up or "topped off" in normal operation. A system that needs more refrigerant has a leak.

The refrigerant change affects which new systems are sold, not whether your current R-410A system can keep running and be repaired.

The refrigerants you will hear about

Common residential refrigerants and their status in 2026

Refrigerant	Where you find it	Status for homeowners
R-22	Older systems, generally installed before the 2010s	U.S. production and import ended January 1, 2020. Existing systems may keep running; service relies on recovered or stockpiled supply.
R-410A	Most systems installed from the 2010s through 2024	Existing systems can still be repaired and serviced. New systems built for R-410A are being phased out under the AIM Act.
R-32	Newer systems, including Goodman's current residential split systems	A2L ("mildly flammable") refrigerant used in current equipment.
R-454B	Newer systems from several other manufacturers	A2L refrigerant used in current equipment.

What changed for R-410A in 2026?

In 2026 the EPA removed the January 1, 2026 installation deadline that had applied to new R-410A residential split systems. The original 2023 rule set January 1, 2025 as the cutoff for manufacturing and importing new R-410A split systems and January 1, 2026 as the last day those systems could be installed. EPA's final rule published in the Federal Register on May 26, 2026 (document 2026-10387) took the installation deadline away, so equipment made before 2025 may continue to be installed until existing stock runs out.

Two cautions apply. First, that rule is being challenged in court, so the situation could change again; check the current status before you make a decision that depends on it. Second, some older explanations online, including pages that have not been updated, still describe the January 2026 installation deadline as if it were in force. Look at the date on anything you read.

What has not changed: the 2025 manufacturing and import cutoff for new R-410A split systems, and the direction of travel toward A2L refrigerants for new equipment.

When does the refrigerant change affect your home?

The refrigerant change affects you mainly when you buy a new system, not while your current one is working. Here is how it plays out in common situations:

• Your R-410A system needs a repair. Repairs on R-410A systems are unaffected. Technicians can still service them and recharge them with R-410A after a leak is repaired.
• You are replacing the whole system. Most new equipment now uses R-32 or R-454B. Some remaining pre-2025 R-410A equipment may still be available, but that supply is finite.
• You want to replace only the outdoor unit. The outdoor and indoor components are designed and rated to work with a specific refrigerant. A new A2L outdoor unit is generally paired with a matching indoor coil, so plan on discussing both.
• You still have an R-22 system. Production and import of R-22 ended January 1, 2020. The system can keep running, but a major leak repair depends on recovered or stockpiled refrigerant, which is a strong reason to start planning for replacement.

What can go wrong during the transition?

The biggest risks during the transition are mismatched equipment, outdated advice and unsafe handling. Watch for these:

• Mixing refrigerants. Refrigerants are not interchangeable. Adding the wrong refrigerant, or a "drop-in" substitute not approved for your equipment, can damage the compressor.
• Pressure based on an old deadline. If someone tells you that you must buy a new R-410A system before a 2026 deadline, that information is out of date.
• Repeated recharging without fixing the leak. Refrigerant does not wear out. If a system keeps needing more, the leak should be found and repaired.
• Skipping A2L safety features. Because A2L refrigerants are mildly flammable, the safety standard UL 60335-2-40 requires refrigerant detection systems on many A2L installations. These sensors are part of the equipment design and should not be disabled or left unconnected.

Refrigerant work requires specialized training, gauges and recovery equipment, so leave it to a licensed technician. It is not a homeowner task. If you suspect a leak, our blog post on how to tell if your AC is low on Freon covers the symptoms to look for.

How can you tell which refrigerant your system uses?

The refrigerant type is printed on the data plate of your outdoor unit, usually next to the factory charge amount. You can check it safely without tools:

1. Find the metal or foil label on the side of the outdoor condenser. Do not remove panels.
2. Look for a line reading "Refrigerant" or "R-" followed by a number, such as R-22, R-410A, R-32 or R-454B.
3. Note the model and serial numbers too. The manufacturer can tell you the build date from the serial number, which helps when you are deciding between repair and replacement.

Knowing your refrigerant type takes thirty seconds and makes every repair or replacement conversation clearer.

What should you do now?

If your current system works, keep maintaining it; the refrigerant change is not a reason to replace a healthy system. If your system is older, uses R-22 or is facing a costly repair, use the change as one input in a broader repair-or-replace decision rather than the deciding factor.

• Write down your refrigerant type, model number and approximate system age.
• If you are replacing, ask which refrigerant the proposed system uses and whether the indoor and outdoor components are a matched pair.
• If a quote includes A2L equipment, ask how the refrigerant detection system is installed.
• If your city requires a permit for the replacement, confirm it is in place before work begins.

JHC Cooling & Heating installs and services Goodman equipment, and Goodman's current residential split systems use R-32.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes, in some cases. EPA's final rule published May 26, 2026 removed the January 1, 2026 installation deadline, so R-410A equipment manufactured before 2025 may be installed until existing stock is used up. The rule is being challenged in court, so confirm the current status before relying on it.

Can my R-410A air conditioner still be repaired?

Yes. The refrigerant transition applies to new equipment, not to repairing systems already in homes. A licensed technician can repair an R-410A system and recharge it with R-410A after fixing a leak.

Is R-32 or R-454B dangerous to have in my home?

Both are classified A2L, meaning mildly flammable. Equipment built for them is designed to the UL 60335-2-40 safety standard, which requires refrigerant detection systems on many A2L installations. Leave refrigerant handling and sensor wiring to a qualified technician.

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. Using the wrong refrigerant can damage the compressor and create safety problems.

When did R-22 production end?

U.S. production and import of R-22 ended on January 1, 2020. Existing R-22 systems may keep running, but service depends on recovered or stockpiled refrigerant, which makes large leak repairs harder to justify.

Which refrigerant do Goodman systems use?

Goodman's current residential split systems use R-32. Older Goodman systems already in homes may use R-410A or, if they are old enough, R-22, so check the data plate on your outdoor unit.

Sources

1. Federal Register, EPA final rule, document 2026-10387 (May 26, 2026) — removal of the January 1, 2026 installation deadline for R-410A residential split systems (as of October 16, 2026)
2. Federal Register, EPA Technology Transitions rule, document 2023-28500 (December 26, 2023) — original 2025 manufacturing/import and 2026 installation dates under the AIM Act (as of October 16, 2026)
3. ACHR News, coverage of EPA's removal of the R-410A installation deadline — industry reporting on the 2026 rule change (as of October 16, 2026)
4. ACHR News, coverage of legal challenges to the 2026 rule — litigation pending (as of October 16, 2026)
5. ACHR News, the A2L refrigerant era and UL 60335-2-40 — A2L classification and refrigerant detection systems (as of October 16, 2026)
6. U.S. EPA, Residential Air Conditioning and the Phaseout of HCFC-22: What You Need to Know — R-22 production and import ended January 1, 2020; existing systems may continue to operate (as of October 16, 2026)
7. Goodman, residential split-system air conditioners — current residential split systems use R-32 (as of October 16, 2026)