From Freon to A2L: What Rental Property Owners Should Know About Refrigerants
- Coastal Group Inc
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Refrigerants are essential to air conditioners, heat pumps, refrigerators and commercial refrigeration equipment. They circulate through a sealed system, absorbing heat from one area and releasing it somewhere else.
Although the cooling process has remained largely the same, refrigerants have changed because of concerns involving safety, ozone depletion and environmental impact.
From Early Refrigerants to Freon
The earliest mechanical refrigerators used chemicals such as ammonia, sulfur dioxide, methyl chloride and propane. These refrigerants were effective, but some were toxic or highly flammable.
During the late 1920s, scientists developed chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs. These refrigerants were more stable, nonflammable and safer for use in homes. R-12, commonly associated with the Freon name, became widely used in refrigerators and automobile air-conditioning systems.
Scientists later discovered that CFCs damaged the earth’s protective ozone layer. R-12 and similar refrigerants were therefore gradually phased out.
The R-22 Era
R-22 became the standard refrigerant for residential air conditioners and heat pumps for several decades. It was less damaging to the ozone layer than earlier CFCs, but it still contained ozone-depleting chlorine.
New residential HVAC systems using R-22 stopped being manufactured in 2010. The United States ended the production and importation of new R-22 for servicing existing equipment on January 1, 2020.
An existing R-22 system is not illegal and does not have to be replaced solely because of its refrigerant. It may still be repaired using reclaimed or previously produced R-22. However, refrigerant leaks and major repairs can become expensive because supplies are increasingly limited.
For an older rental property, a major R-22 repair should usually be compared carefully with the cost and benefits of replacing the system.
R-410A Becomes the New Standard
R-410A replaced R-22 in most residential air conditioners and heat pumps manufactured after 2010. It does not damage the ozone layer and became the residential HVAC standard for more than a decade.
However, R-410A has a relatively high Global Warming Potential, commonly called GWP. This means it can have a significant climate impact if released into the atmosphere.
Under the federal American Innovation and Manufacturing Act, the HVAC industry is now reducing its dependence on higher-GWP refrigerants.
The New A2L Refrigerants
Beginning in 2025, most newly manufactured residential air-conditioning and heat-pump systems began transitioning to lower-GWP refrigerants such as:
R-454B
R-32
These are generally classified as A2L refrigerants. They have lower toxicity and only limited flammability, but they require equipment, tools and installation procedures specifically designed for them.
Property owners should not attempt to substitute R-32 or R-454B for R-410A or R-22. Refrigerants operate at different pressures and may require different compressors, coils, controls, lubricants and safety components.
In most residential situations, changing refrigerant means replacing compatible HVAC equipment—not simply draining one refrigerant and adding another.
Refrigerants Are Also Changing in Refrigeration
Similar changes are taking place in refrigerators, freezers and commercial refrigeration systems.
Many newer household refrigerators use R-600a, also known as isobutane. Commercial refrigeration systems may use several different refrigerants, including carbon dioxide, ammonia, propane and newer low-GWP blends.
The appropriate refrigerant depends on the size, purpose and design of the equipment. A household refrigerator, restaurant cooler and supermarket refrigeration system have very different operating and safety requirements.
What Rental Property Owners Should Do
The refrigerant type is normally listed on the equipment data plate. For a central air conditioner or heat pump, this plate is generally located on the outdoor unit.
Owners should record:
The equipment manufacturer
Model and serial numbers
Approximate installation date
Refrigerant type
Repair and service history
An operating R-22 or R-410A system does not automatically need replacement. The decision should be based on the equipment’s age, condition, repair cost, refrigerant availability, energy efficiency and expected remaining life.
Before authorizing a major repair, ask the HVAC contractor to explain:
Whether the system has a refrigerant leak
Whether the leak can be properly repaired
The complete repair cost, including refrigerant
The estimated remaining life of the equipment
The refrigerant used by the proposed replacement system
How Coastal Group Helps Property Owners
HVAC problems can become especially difficult when an owner lives outside the area or receives an unexpected repair request during extreme weather.
Coastal Group coordinates tenant maintenance requests, contractor access, repair estimates and owner communication as part of our property maintenance and repair process.
When a repair involves older HVAC equipment, we help the owner gather the information needed to compare repair and replacement options. Our role is not to select the refrigerant or replace the judgment of a licensed HVAC contractor. It is to help owners receive clear information, document the work and make a practical decision for the property.
Learn more about our complete property management and owner services for rental homes in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake and the surrounding Hampton Roads area.
