Since July 27, 2026, you can install new R-410A split systems with no deadline, as long as every specified component was manufactured or imported before January 1, 2025. Everything built since then must use refrigerant at or below 700 GWP, which in practice means A2L refrigerants such as R-454B and R-32. Existing R-410A systems can be serviced and repaired as before. New York keeps its own January 1, 2026 deadline, and HFC supply keeps shrinking, so R-410A will likely cost more over time.
What changed in 2026
EPA’s 2023 Technology Transitions rule set a 700 GWP limit for new residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pump systems from January 1, 2025, and let contractors install split systems built from pre-2025 R-410A components until January 1, 2026 (EPA fact sheet; 2023 rule). Late in 2025 EPA signalled enforcement discretion, and on May 26, 2026 it published a final rule that removes the installation deadline for these systems “where all specified components of such systems were domestically manufactured or imported before January 1, 2025.” The rule took effect on July 27, 2026 (Federal Register).
What did not change: the 700 GWP limit for new equipment, the manufacture and import restrictions, the HFC phasedown that is shrinking refrigerant supply, and the freedom to service and repair existing systems (EPA).
Key dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2025 | Self-contained (packaged) products made or imported from this date must use refrigerant at or below 700 GWP. Split-system components made from this date can’t go into new systems above 700 GWP. |
| January 1, 2026 | Original installation deadline for split systems built with pre-2025 R-410A components. Now removed (see below). |
| May 26, 2026 | EPA publishes the final reconsideration rule in the Federal Register. |
| July 27, 2026 | The rule takes effect: split systems whose components were all made or imported before January 1, 2025 can be installed with no deadline. |
| January 1, 2027 | Installation deadline for most VRF systems (2028 for some projects permitted before October 5, 2023). |
| January 1, 2028 | End of the three-year sell-through for self-contained products manufactured before 2025. |
| 2029 | HFC production and consumption allowances fall to 30% of the historic baseline, from 60% in 2024. |
Can I install it? Six situations
1. Replacing a failed R-410A condenser on an existing system
Allowed. EPA’s rule doesn’t restrict servicing or repairing existing systems, including replacing components, and service components can still be made and sold. (EPA fact sheet)
2. Installing a new R-410A split system from 2024 inventory
Allowed from July 27, 2026, with no deadline, if every specified component was manufactured or imported before January 1, 2025. Keep the manufacture dates. (Federal Register, May 2026)
3. Installing a new R-410A split system with a 2025-built indoor coil
Not allowed: the relief applies only when all specified components were made or imported before January 1, 2025. (Federal Register, May 2026)
4. Selling a pre-2025 R-410A packaged unit
Packaged units are treated as products with a three-year sell-through from the manufacturing date, so pre-2025 units can be sold until January 1, 2028; the 2026 relief for split systems doesn’t extend that. (EPA rule, 2026)
5. Installing R-410A split equipment in New York
New York’s own regulation (Part 494) keeps the January 1, 2026 installation deadline, so the federal relief doesn’t help there. (ACCA, May 2026)
6. Installing a new R-454B or R-32 system anywhere
Allowed everywhere, subject to the equipment’s listing, the manufacturer’s instructions and the A2L provisions of the building code your jurisdiction has adopted. (EPA SNAP)
Three real-world jobs, walked through
Job 1: Texas, August 2026. A distributor offers a discounted R-410A condenser and matching coil, both built in October 2024. Install date: September 2026. Federal rules allow it (all components pre-2025, rule effective July 27), Texas has no stricter state rule in the sources we checked, and the contractor files the date codes with the job.
Job 2: Ohio, October 2026. Same discounted 2024 condenser, but the only compatible coil in stock was built in March 2025. The system can’t be installed under the relief, because not every component is pre-2025. The contractor quotes an A2L system instead.
Job 3: New York, October 2026. A customer wants the cheaper R-410A system the contractor installed for their cousin in New Jersey. New York’s Part 494 keeps the January 1, 2026 deadline, so the contractor quotes an A2L system and explains why.
State rules that still bite
Federal relief doesn’t override stricter state rules:
| State | Rule | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| New York | Part 494 keeps the January 1, 2026 installation deadline | No federal relief for installing pre-2025 R-410A split systems (ACCA) |
| California | 750 GWP limit for new systems, based on date of manufacture, from January 1, 2025 | Pre-2025 R-410A condensing units can still be sold for service (Rheem guide) |
| Washington | 750 GWP limit, tied to the state’s adoption of UL 60335-2-40 in its building code | Check current state code adoption (Rheem guide) |
Other states have considered similar rules. Before stocking R-410A equipment for new installs, check your state environmental agency and building code.
R-454B, R-32 and friends
| Refrigerant | GWP | Safety class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| R-410A | 2,090 | A1 | The old standard. Above the 700 limit for new systems. |
| R-452B | 700 | A2L | At the 700 limit. Used by some manufacturers. |
| R-32 | 675 | A2L | Single-component refrigerant; widely used worldwide. |
| R-454B | 470 | A2L | A blend used by many US manufacturers. |
A2L means lower toxicity (A) and lower flammability (2L). EPA lists the A2L options as acceptable subject to use conditions, which are set out in the rules it links (EPA SNAP). They are not drop-in replacements: each system is designed, tested and listed for one refrigerant.
Example. A homeowner asks whether their 2014 R-410A system can be “topped up with the new stuff”. The answer is no: the existing system keeps R-410A for its life, and a future replacement will be an A2L system designed for it.
Working with A2L systems
Installing A2L equipment is governed by the equipment listing, the manufacturer’s installation instructions and the A2L provisions in the building and mechanical codes your jurisdiction has adopted, which can include requirements such as refrigerant detection and mitigation. Manufacturer guides point contractors to AHRI’s state code adoption map (Rheem).
- Read the installation manual for the specific model: charge limits, line sets, detection and mitigation requirements.
- Confirm your state and local code adoption for A2L equipment.
- Check that recovery machines, leak detectors and other tools are rated for A2L use per their manufacturers.
- Train the crew on the manufacturer’s A2L procedures and keep training records.
- Update your quoting templates and job checklists for A2L-specific items.
Prices and supply
The AIM Act phasedown is unchanged: HFC production and consumption were capped at 90% of baseline in 2023 and 60% from 2024, falling to 30% in 2029 (EPA). Keeping more R-410A equipment in service raises demand for a shrinking supply. ACCA expects higher refrigerant prices for all contractors, and HARDI estimated the 2026 changes could add nearly $8 billion in refrigerant costs, with broader impacts up to $13 billion across HVACR (ACCA; ACHR News). These are industry estimates, not EPA figures.
Pricing jobs through the transition
Three practical consequences for your price book:
- Service calls that need R-410A: price refrigerant per pound at current replacement cost, and review the price monthly rather than yearly.
- Repair vs replace: when a large R-410A leak or compressor failure meets an old system, show the customer both options with the expected refrigerant cost over the next repairs.
- Pre-2025 R-410A equipment: it can be installed, but tell the customer what it means for future service costs.
Example. A 15-year-old 3-ton R-410A system has a coil leak. Repair means a coil, labour and a full refrigerant charge at today’s price, with the refrigerant price expected to rise. Replacement with an A2L system costs more today but resets the clock. Presenting both with numbers is good selling and good advice. Build the numbers with our flat-rate pricing calculator and replacement cost calculator.
Repair or replace: a decision table
| Factor | Leans repair | Leans replace |
|---|---|---|
| System age | Under about 10 years | Near or past typical service life |
| Failure | Small, accessible leak or electrical part | Compressor, major coil leak, repeated leaks |
| Refrigerant needed | Little | A full or large R-410A charge |
| Comfort or efficiency complaints | None | Uneven comfort, high bills, wrong size |
| Customer plans | Selling soon, tight budget | Staying long term |
This is a framework for the conversation, not a rule; the customer decides. Use our AC size calculator to sanity-check sizing before quoting a replacement.
Questions to ask your distributor
- Which R-410A split-system stock do you hold, and can you show manufacture dates for every component?
- How much R-410A refrigerant do you expect to have, and how are prices trending?
- Which A2L lines (R-454B or R-32) do you carry, and what are the lead times?
- What A2L training and installation documentation do the manufacturers provide?
- What are the warranty terms if I install pre-2025 R-410A equipment now?
Talking to homeowners
Avoid scare tactics. The rules don’t require anyone to replace a working system, and saying otherwise can mislead customers.
If customers ask about the federal tax credit: the 25C energy efficient home improvement credit ended for property placed in service after December 31, 2025 (Honkamp). Some states offer rebates through DOE’s Home Energy Rebates programs (DOE).
If you also do commercial refrigeration
The same 2026 rule eased limits in commercial refrigeration, which matters if you service supermarkets or cold storage. ACHR News reports that EPA raised the supermarket limit to 1,400 GWP from January 1, 2027 through January 1, 2032, raised the limit for remote condensing units in retail food to 1,400 GWP and for cold storage warehouses to 700 GWP from the rule’s effective date through January 1, 2032, after which the lower limits return (ACHR News; Federal Register). Industry groups expect this extra demand for existing refrigerants to push prices up for everyone.
Glossary
- GWP (global warming potential): how much a gas warms the climate compared with the same mass of carbon dioxide.
- A1, A2L: ASHRAE safety classes. A means lower toxicity; 1 means no flame propagation; 2L means lower flammability.
- HFC phasedown: the AIM Act schedule cutting HFC production and consumption allowances to a share of the historic baseline.
- Split system: a field-assembled system, such as an outdoor condensing unit with an indoor coil or air handler.
- Self-contained (packaged) product: equipment sold as one factory-charged unit, such as a packaged rooftop or window unit.
- Technology Transitions rule: EPA’s rule setting GWP limits and compliance dates by equipment type.
Records to keep
- For any R-410A system installed new after 2025: model and serial numbers and manufacture dates of every component.
- Where the equipment came from (distributor invoice).
- Refrigerant type and amount charged on every job.
- For A2L installs: the code edition applied and any required detection or mitigation devices.
- Customer acknowledgment when you install pre-2025 R-410A equipment, noting future service cost implications.
Mistakes to avoid
- Installing a “new” R-410A system with one 2025-built component.
- Assuming federal relief applies in New York.
- Treating packaged units like split systems.
- Telling customers R-410A is “banned” or that they must replace a working system.
- Quoting R-410A refrigerant at last year’s price.
- Mixing refrigerants or retrofitting an R-410A system to an A2L.
Related: HVAC marketing in 2026 and our free AC size calculator.
Questions
Can I still install R-410A air conditioners in 2026?
Yes, for split systems whose components were all manufactured or imported before January 1, 2025: EPA’s final rule, effective July 27, 2026, removed the installation deadline for them. New equipment made since 2025 must use refrigerant at or below 700 GWP. Some states, such as New York, keep their own deadlines.
Is R-410A banned?
Not for existing systems. EPA’s rules don’t restrict using, servicing or repairing existing R-410A systems, and service components can still be made and sold. What is restricted is new equipment above 700 GWP.
Will R-410A get more expensive?
The HFC phasedown that limits supply is unchanged: allowances drop from 60% of baseline (2024–2028) to 30% in 2029. Industry groups expect rising prices; HARDI estimated the 2026 rule could add billions in refrigerant costs across the sector. Prices depend on the market.
What is the difference between R-454B and R-32?
Both are A2L (lower flammability) refrigerants accepted by EPA for residential and light commercial AC. EPA lists R-454B at 470 GWP and R-32 at 675. They are not interchangeable; each system is designed and listed for one refrigerant.
Can I put R-454B into an R-410A system?
No. A2L refrigerants are approved for equipment designed and listed for them, under EPA use conditions. Don’t retrofit an R-410A system to an A2L refrigerant.
Do A2L systems need special installation?
They are installed under the equipment listing, the manufacturer’s instructions and the A2L provisions of your jurisdiction’s adopted building and mechanical codes, which can include requirements such as refrigerant detection and mitigation. Check the installation manual and local code for each job.
Did the federal tax credit for heat pumps end?
The 25C energy efficient home improvement credit ended for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. Some states offer rebates through DOE’s Home Energy Rebates programs.
Sources
- Federal Register, Phasedown of HFCs: Technology Transitions reconsideration final rule (May 26, 2026; effective July 27, 2026), FR Doc. 2026-10387 — the 2026 rule: removal of the installation deadline for pre-2025 split systems and the July 27, 2026 effective date
- EPA, Technology Transitions Program fact sheet (GWP limits, compliance dates, HFC phasedown schedule; May 2026 edition) — the 700 GWP limit, compliance dates, servicing of existing systems and the HFC phasedown schedule
- EPA SNAP, Substitutes in residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pumps (GWP and ASHRAE class) — GWP values and ASHRAE classes for R-410A, R-454B, R-32 and R-452B
- ACCA, EPA lifts R-410A installation deadline, but refrigerant prices could rise (May 22, 2026) — VRF dates, New York’s Part 494 deadline and the industry outlook on prices
- ACHR News, EPA removes R-410A installation deadline (industry reaction and cost estimates) — industry reaction and HARDI’s cost estimate
- Rheem, A2L regulatory guide (state GWP rules for California and Washington; June 2024 edition) — packaged unit sell-through and state GWP rules for California and Washington
- Goodin Company, EPA changes to the Technology Transitions Rule: R-410A installation deadline removed for pre-2025 split systems (August 2026) — packaged units not covered by the 2026 split-system relief
- Federal Register, Phasedown of hydrofluorocarbons: Technology Transitions, residential and light commercial AC and heat pumps (December 26, 2023) — the original 2023 Technology Transitions rule for this subsector
- Honkamp, Impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on residential energy credits (25C and 25D ended December 31, 2025) — the end of the 25C credit after 2025
- U.S. DOE, Home Energy Rebates (HOMES and HEEHR): available in select states; check your state energy office — state home energy rebate programs
General information about federal and state refrigerant rules as of October 26, 2026. It is not legal advice. Rules, state adoptions and enforcement change; check the Federal Register, EPA, your state agency and the equipment manufacturer’s instructions for each job.