R-410A Refrigerant Phaseout: What Homeowners Need to Know

Looking for a refrigerant that delivers reliable cooling without harming the environment? Engineered for commercial air conditioning and residential systems alike, it ensures efficient cooling while protecting the ozone layer. Known for its low global warming potential (GWP), this refrigerant complies with modern environmental regulations and guarantees exceptional performance. However, while R-410A doesn’t harm the ozone layer, it still contributes to greenhouse gas r410a refrigerant emissions. Its high global warming potential (GWP) has prompted regulatory agencies to call for a phaseout, urging the HVAC industry to transition to refrigerants with lower environmental impacts. R-410A refrigerant has been the primary choice for air conditioning systems over the last two decades.

HVAC systems manufactured in 2025 and beyond will no longer use R-410A, the most common refrigerant in current residential air conditioning units and heat pumps. This is part of a global effort to reduce the environmental impact of refrigerants that contribute to global warming and ozone depletion. Instead, manufacturers will begin using alternative refrigerants like R-454B and R-32, which have a lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) and are more environmentally friendly. Refrigerant 410A, also known as R-410A, is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerant widely used in air conditioning and heat pump systems. It was introduced as a replacement for R-22 due to its lower ozone depletion potential.

The new refrigerants like R-454B and R-32 are designed to be more efficient and environmentally friendly. Based on these regulations, R-410A is currently being phased out in favor of newer, more environmentally friendly options. The adoption of R-410A was one of the first major steps made by the U.S. and other like-minded countries toward environmentally-sound refrigerant technology. Another refrigerant was developed to replace the R-22 freon because R-22 was harming the environment. There is no chlorine in the R-410A, making it safer to use in air conditioning units as well as heat pumps. When it comes to air conditioning and refrigeration systems, understanding the normal operating pressures of the refrigerant is crucial for ensuring efficient and safe operation.

While R-410A has a GWP between 1,890 and 2,100, R-454B boasts a GWP of just 466, making it a more environmentally friendly option. Other alternatives include R-32, which has a GWP of 675 and is favored by some manufacturers. Refrigerants play a crucial role in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems by assisting in the heat exchange process to keep buildings cool. R-410A has been a common refrigerant choice due to its efficiency and performance.

Not only that but you might get fined and charged if your area has laws about who can and cannot handle refrigerant. Another issue with R-410A freon is that there is a global shortage of one of the refrigerants used in making R-410A freon. This refrigerant, R-125, cannot be made quickly enough to keep up with the needs of the public.

However, in some instances, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) do recommend switching to alkylbenzene (AB) oil. Consult the retrofit guidelines of your OEM for your specific application. Lastly, the R-410 is the proven choice for reducing ozone damage that can lead to global warming. R22 is known to cause rapid ozone depletion once it leaks, endangering the environment and people in close vicinity. R-410A or Puron is a hydrochlorofluorocarbon blend that does not specifically harm the ozone layer. It’s a combination of three chemicals, with each one having a unique pressure and a different-sized molecule.

The liquid moves into an expansion valve to cool it down until it evaporates. This creates the cold gas that goes through a different set of coils. The gas absorbs the heat and lowers the air temperature in the house.

At that date no new machines could be manufactured that took R-22 as a refrigerant. This was the line in the sand saying that there would be no more Chlorine containing refrigerants used. While 2010 was the beginning there was a schedule of set dates every five years that would slowly phase out R-22 entirely from the United States. On our blog, you will find valuable content about sensor technology, industry trends, and innovative applications. Our blog aims to provide readers with insightful perspectives, practical advice, and the latest industry updates.

The increased pressure is too much and will cause your tools to break in the best case scenario and the worst case scenario could cause permanent damage to the unit itself. In the next section I will go over the requirements for 410A tools and what we recommend here at RefrigerantHQ. Ok, so we’ve got the basic facts out of the way on this refrigerant. Now let’s take a look at some of the more interesting points about Puron refrigerant. Connect with experts to learn more about Freon™ products and to find the right solution for your needs. While R-410A has negligible fractionation potential, it cannot be ignored when charging.

The industry has recognized the need to adopt refrigerants with lower GWP in line with environmental goals set forth by global agreements such as the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. The R-410A phase-out is part of a broader effort to reduce the environmental impact of refrigerants that contribute to global warming and ozone depletion. Although R-410A is more environmentally friendly than its predecessor, R-22 (Freon), it still has a high Global Warming Potential (GWP).