Refrigerants 101: Types, How They Work, and What the Latest EPA Regulations Mean for You

If you have ever called us because your air conditioner stopped cooling, there is a good chance the conversation eventually turned to refrigerant. It is one of those HVAC terms that gets dropped casually, but few people ever explain what it actually is or why it matters. Here is your plain-English primer.

What Is a Refrigerant and How Does It Work?

A refrigerant is a chemical compound that circulates through your HVAC system, absorbing heat from inside your home and releasing it outside. It is the reason your house cools down when the thermostat calls for it.

The process is simpler than it sounds: the refrigerant shifts between liquid and gas as it moves through the system, absorbing heat when it evaporates and releasing it when it condenses. That cycle repeats continuously, drawing warmth from your living space and expelling it outdoors.

No refrigerant means no cooling. It is fundamental.

A Short History: From R-22 to R-410A to What Comes Next

Refrigerants have been quietly evolving for decades, mainly in response to environmental concerns.

R-22 (Freon) was the industry standard for residential air conditioning for most of the 20th century. It worked well, but had a significant problem: it depletes the ozone layer. The EPA began phasing it out in 2007, and production was fully banned in 2020. If your system is more than 20 years old, it likely still uses R-22, and replacing that refrigerant has become increasingly expensive as supplies dry up.

R-410A (Puron) replaced R-22 and became the dominant residential refrigerant from roughly 2010 through 2024. It does not harm the ozone layer, which was a win. The downside: it has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 2,088, meaning its climate impact is more than 2,000 times that of carbon dioxide. That number put it squarely in the EPA's sights.

Understanding GWP: The Number Driving Today's Changes

Global Warming Potential measures how much heat a substance traps in the atmosphere compared to CO2, which has a baseline GWP of 1. The higher the GWP, the greater the climate impact.

The EPA's 2025 regulations, enacted under the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act, ban the manufacture and import of new HVAC equipment using refrigerants with a GWP above 700. R-410A, with its GWP of 2,088, does not qualify.

The replacements are lower-GWP alternatives in a class called A2L refrigerants — mildly flammable, but far cleaner environmentally:

• R-454B (Puron Advance) — GWP of 466, the most common replacement in residential systems
• R-32 — GWP of 675, widely used in heat pumps and some split systems

What the 2025 EPA Regulations Actually Mean

Here is the practical reality for homeowners in the North Atlanta area:

New systems are already changing. As of January 1, 2025, manufacturers can no longer produce or import residential HVAC equipment using R-410A. New systems installed going forward will use R-454B or R-32. Expect new equipment costs to run 10 to 20% higher, largely due to the safety features required to handle A2L refrigerants.

Your existing R-410A system is not going anywhere. If your current system runs on R-410A, you can keep using it, and we can keep servicing it. R-410A will remain available for repairs, though supply will gradually tighten and prices may rise over time.

R-22 systems are a different story. If you are still running R-22, repair costs are already high and getting higher. A system that is old is likely approaching the end of its useful life anyway. When it makes more financial sense to replace than repair, we will tell you honestly — that is the Air Control standard.

When Should You Be Concerned?

If your system is less than 10 years old and running on R-410A, there is nothing urgent to do. Keep up with your annual maintenance, and your system will continue performing well.

If your system is over 10 years old, especially one running on R-22, it is worth having a conversation about your options before an emergency forces the decision. A planned replacement is almost always less expensive and less stressful than a breakdown in July.

We are happy to walk you through it without any pressure. That is the only way we know how to do business.

Connect with us whenever you're ready to talk it through.

Air Control Heating and Air | GA License #CR110513 | Serving Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Cumming, Milton, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, East Cobb, and the greater North Atlanta area since 1993.