2025 Refrigerant Transition

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set a new global warming potential (GWP) limit of 750 for air conditioning refrigerants, which will take effect on January 1, 2025. This means that R-410A, a commonly used refrigerant with a GWP of 2,088, will no longer be allowed in new air conditioning systems.

Here are some things to know about the 2025 refrigerant change:

New refrigerants
R-32 and R-454B are two of the most common low GWP alternatives to R-410A. These refrigerants are more energy efficient and have a lower GWP than their predecessors.

Cost
New air conditioning systems installed after January 2025 may cost more due to the new refrigerants.

Existing systems
R-22 and R-410A, which are used in older models, will become harder to find, so topping up existing systems with refrigerant could become more expensive.

Safety
A2L-class refrigerants, like R-32 and R-454B, are mildly flammable, but have a lower flammability rating than other refrigerants.

Transition
Manufacturers, distributors, and technicians are working to meet the new standards by producing new equipment and updating service practices.