Last reviewed: September 2026 · By the HVAC Brief Editorial Team · Our sourcing and editorial standards
Refrigerant is the working fluid that carries heat out of your house, and “Freon” is a brand name, not a type. Freon was DuPont’s trademark, applied across several different chemicals, which is why the word tells you nothing about what is actually in your system.
What matters is which refrigerant you have. R-22 has not been produced in the US since January 1, 2020. R-410A cannot go into new residential equipment built after January 1, 2025. New systems use R-454B or similar.
Ask a technician what is in your system and the answer should be a designation like R-410A, not a brand. The data plate on the outdoor unit states it.
What refrigerant actually does
It does not create cold. It moves heat from inside your house to outside, by changing state. The cycle works because a fluid absorbs heat when it evaporates and releases heat when it condenses.
- Evaporator coil, indoors. Low pressure liquid refrigerant absorbs heat from indoor air and boils into vapour. The air leaving the coil is cooler and drier.
- Compressor, outdoors. Raises the pressure and temperature of that vapour.
- Condenser coil, outdoors. Hot high pressure vapour releases heat to outdoor air and condenses back to liquid.
- Metering device. Drops the pressure again, and the cycle repeats.
The refrigerant is never consumed. It circulates in a sealed loop, which is why a system that needs topping up has a leak rather than an appetite.
Which refrigerant is in your system
| Refrigerant | Typical era | Status |
|---|---|---|
| R-22 | Systems installed before about 2010 | No US production or import since January 1, 2020. Reclaimed material only. |
| R-410A | Roughly 2010 to 2025 | Cannot go in new residential equipment built after January 1, 2025. Servicing is legal. |
| R-454B | New equipment from 2025 | Current. Classified A2L, mildly flammable. |
Our guides cover what remains of R-22 and what R-454B changes in more detail.
Why “Freon” confuses the conversation
Freon was a DuPont trademark covering a family of chemicals, not a single substance. A homeowner told their system “needs Freon” learns nothing about which refrigerant, what it costs to source now, or whether the underlying leak was found.
A sealed refrigerant circuit does not consume refrigerant in normal operation. If a technician proposes adding refrigerant, the correct question is where the leak is and what happens when it recurs. Repeatedly recharging treats the symptom while venting a controlled substance, and under 40 CFR part 82 venting is prohibited regardless of system size.
Frequently asked questions
What is refrigerant in an air conditioner?
The working fluid that carries heat from inside your house to outside by changing state between liquid and vapour. It absorbs heat when it evaporates at the indoor coil and releases it when it condenses at the outdoor coil. It circulates in a sealed loop and is not consumed in normal operation.
Is Freon the same as refrigerant?
Freon is a brand name, originally a DuPont trademark applied to several different chemicals, not a type of refrigerant. Saying a system needs Freon does not identify what is actually in it. The designation that matters is on the outdoor unit data plate, typically R-22, R-410A or R-454B.
How do I know which refrigerant my system uses?
Read the data plate on the outdoor unit, which states the refrigerant designation. As a rough guide by age, systems installed before about 2010 often use R-22, systems from roughly 2010 to 2025 use R-410A, and equipment manufactured after January 1, 2025 uses R-454B or a similar low global warming potential blend.
Does air conditioning refrigerant run out?
No. Refrigerant circulates in a sealed loop and is not consumed by normal operation. A system that is low has lost refrigerant through a leak. Adding more without locating the leak means the loss continues and the refrigerant escapes into the atmosphere.
Methodology and limitations
Refrigerant status dates are from 40 CFR 84.54 for the 700 GWP threshold effective January 1, 2025, and the Clean Air Act Title VI phaseout for R-22 production ending January 1, 2020. Venting prohibitions are in 40 CFR part 82.
- We publish no refrigerant prices. No federal series tracks residential refrigerant pricing.
- Era guidance by installation year is approximate. The data plate is authoritative for a specific system.
- Refrigerant work requires EPA Section 608 certification and is not owner serviceable.
Sources
- US Environmental Protection Agency, 40 CFR 84.54; 40 CFR part 82 subparts A and F.
The HVAC Brief is an independent trade publication. We do not sell equipment, take manufacturer advertising, or accept payment for placement in our research. Corrections welcome.
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