Three refrigerants, one phase-out story
If your AC is more than a few years old, you've probably heard "R-22," "Freon," "R-410A," or now "R-454B" thrown around, usually right before a bigger bill than expected. Here's the actual timeline and what it means for your wallet.
R-22 (the original "Freon")
R-22 was the standard refrigerant in US residential AC from the 1950s through the mid-2000s. It's also a potent ozone-depleting substance, which is why the EPA phased out production under the Montreal Protocol.
Key dates: - 2010: No new equipment could be manufactured using R-22 - 2020: All production and import of new R-22 stopped in the US
Any R-22 available today is recycled/reclaimed stock. Prices have climbed to $150+ per pound (compare to roughly $10-15/lb historically), because supply only shrinks from here.
If you still have an R-22 system: it's legal to keep running and legal to recharge with reclaimed R-22 if it leaks. But the economics rarely make sense. A typical 3-4 lb recharge now costs $600-$900 just in refrigerant, and if there's a leak, it'll leak again. Most R-22 systems are also 15+ years old at this point, squarely in replacement territory anyway.
R-410A (the current standard, being phased down)
R-410A became the standard replacement for R-22 starting in the mid-2000s. It doesn't deplete ozone, but it does have a high Global Warming Potential (GWP), which is now driving its own phase-down under the 2020 AIM Act.
Key date: January 1, 2025, no new equipment could be manufactured using R-410A in most residential categories.
If your system was installed 2010-2024, it almost certainly runs R-410A. This refrigerant remains available for servicing existing systems for years to come, so recharge and repair options are still solid and reasonably priced ($275-$650 typical recharge range).
R-454B (the new standard)
R-454B is the refrigerant now used in new residential equipment as of 2025, chosen for its much lower GWP while maintaining good efficiency and safety profiles. It's mildly flammable (A2L classification), which required updated safety standards for equipment design, technician handling, and even truck transport.
If you're buying a new system now, it will use R-454B. Certified installers (like Keith's techs, all EPA 608 certified and trained on A2L handling) install and service it safely, no different in practical terms for the homeowner beyond a modest cost increase in equipment reflecting the new compressor and safety engineering.
What this means for your decision
If your system runs R-22 and needs a refrigerant-related repair: replacement is almost always the smarter financial move at this point. We'll show you both numbers.
If your system runs R-410A and needs a recharge: repair is often still the right call, especially on systems under 10 years old. R-410A remains supported and reasonably priced.
If you're buying new: you'll get R-454B equipment by default; there's no way around it since manufacturers can't make new R-410A units anymore. The good news: R-454B systems are the most efficient and best-warrantied equipment on the market today.
The bottom line
Refrigerant type by itself shouldn't drive panic. What matters is: is your system leaking (a real problem regardless of refrigerant type), and is it old enough that the refrigerant type is really a symptom of overall system age?
We test for leaks properly rather than just "charge and pray." If your system needs refrigerant work, call (228) 265-8609 and we'll give you straight numbers on repair vs. replace based on your actual system age and condition.