If you've bought or serviced air conditioning any time in the last twenty years, R-410A was the refrigerant in the lines. That era is over for new equipment. Under the EPA's Technology Transitions rule (40 CFR Part 84, issued under the 2020 AIM Act), residential and light-commercial air conditioners and heat pumps manufactured after January 1, 2025 must use a refrigerant with a global warming potential under 700. R-410A's GWP is 2,088 — nearly three times the cap — so factories have switched to R-454B (GWP 466) and R-32 (GWP 675). Here's what that actually changes when you're buying, installing, or maintaining equipment in 2026.
What the rules actually say
The phase-down is about new equipment, not the installed base. An existing R-410A system is legal to own, operate, and service for its full life. What changed:
- New equipment: anything manufactured after January 1, 2025 must run a sub-700-GWP refrigerant — in practice R-454B or R-32, both classified A2L (mildly flammable) with UL 60335-2-40 safety engineering such as leak-detection sensors and mitigation logic.
- Pre-2025 inventory: a final EPA rule published May 26, 2026 (effective July 27, 2026) removed the installation deadline for R-410A components built in or imported into the U.S. before January 1, 2025. That leftover stock can still be installed; anything newer is for servicing existing equipment only.
- Service gas: R-410A refrigerant itself remains legal to buy and use for repairs, but AIM Act production allowances step down toward an 85% cut by 2036 — expect the price per pound to keep climbing, the same path R-22 took after its 2020 production ban.
R-454B vs. R-32: the two replacement lanes
Manufacturers split into two camps. Most major brands — Carrier, Trane, and others — standardized on R-454B, a blend of R-32 and R-1234yf with a GWP of 466. Daikin and its Goodman line went with R-32, a single-component refrigerant at GWP 675. Neither is a drop-in: compressors, expansion devices, and controls are refrigerant-specific, and EPA Section 608 retrofit provisions mean you cannot charge R-454B or R-32 into equipment built for R-410A. Existing copper line sets can often be reused when the manufacturer allows it — correct diameter, flushed clean, nitrogen-purged, and pulled to a deep vacuum.
Our current Goodman lineup reflects the R-32 lane: the Goodman 14.3 SEER2 single-stage split system (R-32) runs $1,818.44 at the 1.5-ton size. Ductless buyers are already living in the A2L world — the MRCOOL DIY 12k BTU 22 SEER2 mini-split is $606.00, and the solar-hybrid ECOSOLARIS 12,000 BTU R-32 mini-split heat pump is $2,283.53. Browse the full HVAC & air conditioning collection and mini-split systems.
What it means at the counter
Three practical takeaways. First, if you're buying new equipment in 2026, you're buying A2L — budget for the newer safety hardware and confirm your installer is current on UL 60335-2-40 practices. Second, if you're maintaining R-410A equipment, service gas is still on the shelf: a 25 lb cylinder of virgin R-410A is $249.00 today, and reclaimed stock like our R-22 30 lb cylinder (reclaimed to AHRI 700 purity) at $279.00 shows how legacy gases stay available through the reclaimed market. Third, the compliance rules haven't loosened: Clean Air Act Section 608 requires EPA-certified technicians to purchase or handle these refrigerants, recovery is mandatory, and venting is prohibited — full stop.
Planning a changeout or a multi-unit project? Send the spec to our wholesale desk and we'll quote current R-32 and A2L-ready equipment with real lead times.
Frequently asked questions
Is R-410A illegal in 2026?
No. R-410A is restricted in newly manufactured equipment, not in existing systems. You can keep running, repairing, and recharging an R-410A system indefinitely — the constraint is that refrigerant supply tightens each year under the AIM Act allowance schedule.
Can I retrofit my R-410A system to R-454B?
No. R-454B and R-32 require equipment designed for them — different compressors, lubricants, and safety components — and no manufacturer approves the conversion. Retrofit also violates EPA Section 608 retrofit provisions for A2L refrigerants.
Do I need a license to buy refrigerant?
Yes. Under Clean Air Act Section 608, only EPA-certified technicians may purchase or handle regulated refrigerants, and all handling must follow recovery and no-venting requirements.
Will R-454B prices spike like R-410A did?
Supply was tight during the 2025 changeover, which is part of why EPA adjusted the inventory rules in 2026. Long term, both replacement refrigerants sit under the same AIM Act allowance framework, so buying equipment and refrigerant together — and early — is the safer play.
