If you have shopped for an air conditioner or a heat pump lately, you have seen R-454B and R-32 on the spec sheets. Here is what changed, and what it means for a system that already runs on R-410A.
What changed
Since January 1, 2025, new residential air conditioners and heat pumps in the U.S. are made for lower-impact refrigerants, mostly R-454B and R-32. They belong to a class called A2L: a much lower global-warming potential, and mildly flammable, so equipment and installation follow updated safety standards.
California goes further with its own rule: new air-conditioning equipment in the state may not use a refrigerant with a global-warming potential of 750 or more. R-410A is far above that.
If your system runs on R-410A
- It can keep running and be repaired. Nothing requires you to replace a system that works.
- It can't be topped up with the new refrigerants. R-454B and R-32 are not drop-in replacements for R-410A.
- Its refrigerant will get more expensive. R-410A production is being phased down nationally, and California ends new bulk sales of virgin R-410A in 2030; after that, service relies on reclaimed refrigerant.
- A leak is the moment to think. A small repair is still a repair; repeated leaks or a failed compressor on an older system is when a replacement is worth pricing.
What about leftover R-410A equipment?
In May 2026 the EPA removed the federal deadline for installing R-410A equipment made before 2025, so leftover units can still be installed in much of the country. California's rule for new air-conditioning equipment is stricter, so a new system installed in Los Angeles is normally an A2L system. If you are offered a new R-410A system here, ask how it meets California's rule.
Repairs on the new systems
A2L systems are repaired much like R-410A systems, with tools and procedures rated for mildly flammable refrigerants. Refrigerant work on any system requires EPA 608 certification; our refrigerant work is done under the Universal level.
How we help
The $69 diagnostic tells you what is wrong and what the repair costs before any work. If a replacement makes more sense, we price that too; new installations carry a 1-year warranty on the installation.