What coolant is no longer available?

Author: Veda Jaskolski  |  Last update: Thursday, August 7, 2025

In 2010, the U.S. stopped the sale of newly manufactured residential air conditioning units and heat pumps that use R-22 because of its particularly harmful impact on the ozone layer when released into the air.

What coolant is banned?

R-22 (Chlorodifluoromethane), also known as R22 Freon or HCFC-22 Freon, was a common refrigerant for HVAC systems. It is now a banned refrigerant that is illegal to import or manufacture.

What refrigerant is now banned?

R22 (also known as HCFC-22) is a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) once widely used as a refrigerant. If your home or office AC is over 10 years old, it's probably using R22 freon. However, R22 Freon is banned in the U.S. today.

What refrigerants have been phased out?

In new chiller production, HFC refrigerants like R-404A and R-410A are prohibited from 1st January 2024. The production of new equipment using R-22 ceased entirely in 2022, and the HCFC phaseout will be completed in 2030.

Which type of refrigerant is banned?

Chlorofluorocarbons. The production of chlorofluorocarbons, commonly known as CFCs, was banned in the 1990s. The refrigerant, which contains chlorine, has a huge environmental impact. In fact, a 1974 report stated that CFCs would eventually deplete the planet's ozone layer.

The RIGHT Way to Find A Coolant Leak!

Which refrigerant is discontinued?

To protect the ozone layer and slow climate change, the EPA is phasing out all production of R-22 and other ozone-depleting substances — like HCFCs, CFCs, and Halons.

Why was R134a banned?

Why Is R-134A Being Phased Out? When Is the Phaseout Expected to Conclude? Like a lot of '90s relics, R-134A has not aged well. It was known then that 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane could potentially contribute to acid rain and that its ozone layer depletion potential was high.

What refrigerant is being phased out in 2024?

In the first half of 2024 we'll phase out our R-410A dedicated models and introduce -01 refrigerant versatile models, compatible with both R-410A and R-454B refrigerants.

Is 407C refrigerant still available?

The commonly used synthetic refrigerants such as R134a, R407C and R410A have a GWP value higher than 2,500. As a result, their production is being phased out.

What refrigerant are they replacing 410A with?

The replacements for R-410A are the two A2Ls, Forane® R-32 and R-454B. Forane® R-32 can be used in new equipment designed specifically for mildly flammable refrigerants as a replacement for R-410A equipment. Its low density allows for the use of a smaller refrigerant charge.

Which refrigerant is not legal to purchase?

The bill was then signed into law by California Governor Gavin Newsom in October 2022. As part of the bill, the sale of R-410a will be banned starting on January 1, 2030.

What is R-134a being replaced with?

R-1234yf refrigerant. To date, most auto manufacturers are using the hydro fluoro olefin (HFO) refrigerant R-1234yf as the replacement of choice for R134a.

What year did they stop using Freon in air conditioners?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began the phase out of Freon in 1992 when it ordered the ban that took effect in 2020. Because of the long phase-in starting in 2010, new air conditioning, heat pumps, and refrigeration systems stopped using Freon, which is also known as HCFC-22 and R-22.

What refrigerant is illegal in the US?

It was used for so long that most people simply refer to any refrigerant as "freon." In fact, the word Freon is one type of product, a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) compound known by industry experts as R-22. The EPA began phasing out HCFCs in 2010 and officially banned their production and import in 2020.

What is the most harmful coolant?

Ethylene glycol is listed as a toxic chemical requiring care in handling and disposal. Ethylene glycol has desirable thermal properties, including a high boiling point, low freezing point, stability over a wide range of temperatures, and high specific heat and thermal conductivity.

Can I still buy R22 refrigerant?

As of January 1, 2020, production and import of R22 refrigerant will be illegal in the United States. Of course, continued use of your air conditioner (AC) or heat pump system using R22 refrigerant is allowed.

What happens if you mix R-22 and 407C?

If your system is running on R22 most likely is using mineral oil to lubricate the compressor. If you mix R407C with R22 inside your system the molecule of the HFC (R407C) gas will not link with the oil and in just few months of operation you will have a "sludge" like lubricant formation inside the circuit.

What will replace 407C?

Opteon™ XP20 (R-449C) refrigerant is a hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) option that replaces R-22 and R-407C in residential and commercial air conditioners, as well as direct expansion chillers. It has similar performance and properties to R-22 and R-407C and can be used in both retrofit and new equipment.

Is R-1234YF being discontinued?

It is anticipated that by 2025 all vehicles will contain 1234YF. Don't fret, however, if your current vehicle requires 134a. Though 134a is not compatible with 1234YF and is expected to be phased out, it is still in production and will continue as long as there is a demand for repair of older vehicles.

What refrigerant is obsolete?

In January 2010, the EPA issued a mandate that R-22 refrigerant be phased out except to accommodate existing equipment.

What is the new AC coolant 2025?

The New Refrigerants

Starting in 2025, the HVAC industry will shift toward using refrigerants with a lower GWP. Among the most discussed replacements are R-32 and R-454B.

Will R134a be phased out?

The same two refrigerants and 19 others are being listed as unacceptable in new cold storage warehouses from January 1, 2023. The banning of R134a, along with 27 other refrigerants, in new domestic refrigerators and freezers from January 1, 2021, is expected to open the way for the use of hydrocarbon refrigerants.

What is 134a being replaced with?

Years later, R-134a was found to contribute to global warming, and now it too is being phased out . Enter R-1234yf. R-134a and R-1234yf do have many similar properties. That's because R-134a is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) while R-1234yf is a hydrofluoro-olefin (HFO) refrigerant.

Is it illegal to put 134a in a 1234yf system?

Still, the answer is an emphatic, “No.” Not only would a retrofit of this type negate the environmental benefits of R-1234yf, but it would also be a violation of Federal Law under Section 203 of the Clean Air Act: “tampering” with a vehicle's emissions control device.

Is R12 still available?

Limited quantities of reclaimed R-12 is still available for service of installed equipment. A wide variety of R-12 retrofit blends are available.

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