R-410A in 2026: The EPA Refrigerant Rules HVAC Contractors Must Know
EPA removed the R-410A installation deadline for pre-2025 equipment in 2026, but New York kept it. Section 608 certification and the 15-pound leak rule.
By Seayora Editorial Team · Published · Facts checked · 3 min read
Short answer: New residential and light commercial air conditioners and heat pumps made or imported from January 1, 2025 can no longer use R-410A, but a federal rule effective July 27, 2026 lets pre-2025 R-410A inventory be installed until it runs out. New York did not follow: its Part 494 rule prohibits installing new residential systems using refrigerant with a 100-year global warming potential above 700 from January 1, 2026. Technicians still need EPA Section 608 certification, and since January 1, 2026 commercial systems with 15 pounds or more of HFC refrigerant fall under federal leak repair rules.
Key takeaways
- Federally, equipment made or imported before January 1, 2025 may be installed until supply runs out, under the final rule effective July 27, 2026.
- In New York State, Part 494 kept January 1, 2026 as the prohibition date for new residential AC and heat pumps above 700 GWP.
- Section 608 certification comes in Type I, II, III and Universal, matched to the equipment you service.
- The 15-pound HFC leak repair rule started January 1, 2026, but it excludes residential and light commercial AC and heat pumps.
Can you still install an R-410A system?
It depends on when the equipment was made and which state the job is in. Under the 2023 Technology Transitions rule, new residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pump systems had to use refrigerants with a global warming potential of 700 or less, and equipment made or imported before January 1, 2025 had a deadline of January 1, 2026 to be installed. On May 21, 2026, the EPA finalized a rule that removes that installation deadline and allows pre-2025 inventory to be installed until supply runs out (EPA fact sheet). The rule took effect on July 27, 2026 (Federal Register).
What did not change: new R-410A residential systems made or imported after January 1, 2025 still cannot be installed. Check the manufacture date on the nameplate before you quote a replacement with equipment from a supplier’s back stock.
Does New York follow the federal change?
No. New York’s own hydrofluorocarbon rule, 6 NYCRR Part 494, sets January 1, 2026 as the prohibition date for new residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pumps that use refrigerant with a 100-year global warming potential above 700, and it applies that date to all products and systems in the subsector, including residential dehumidifiers. The Department of Environmental Conservation describes the regulation as a backstop to the federal rules (DEC Part 494 FAQ). R-410A is above that limit. Part 494 also restricts the sale of bulk containers of virgin refrigerants with a global warming potential above 1,500, which includes R-410A, from 2030.
What Section 608 certification do technicians need?
Anyone who maintains, services, repairs or disposes of appliances that could release refrigerant must pass an EPA-approved certification exam (40 CFR § 82.161).
| Type | Covers |
|---|---|
| Type I | Small appliances |
| Type II | Medium-, high- and very high-pressure appliances, which includes most residential and commercial air conditioning |
| Type III | Low-pressure appliances, such as many large chillers |
| Universal | All three of the above |
Who has to repair leaks under the 15-pound rule?
From January 1, 2026, owners and operators of appliances with a full charge of 15 pounds or more of an HFC refrigerant (or a substitute with a global warming potential above 53) must calculate the leak rate every time refrigerant is added, and repair leaks within 30 days once the rate passes the limit: 20% for commercial refrigeration, 30% for industrial process refrigeration and 10% for comfort cooling and other appliances. Repairs must be done by a certified technician (40 CFR § 84.106).
The section expressly does not apply to appliances used in the residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pump subsector. For a contractor, the practical duty on covered commercial systems is paperwork: the technician who adds or removes refrigerant must give the owner the documentation the rule requires at the end of the visit.
Frequently asked questions
Is R-410A banned in 2026?
New R-410A residential systems made or imported from 2025 cannot be installed anywhere. Federally, pre-2025 R-410A equipment may still be installed until supply runs out under the rule effective July 27, 2026, but New York’s Part 494 prohibits it from January 1, 2026.
Can I still buy R-410A to service existing systems?
Federally, the installation rules apply to new systems, not to servicing existing ones. In New York, Part 494 restricts bulk containers of virgin refrigerant above 1,500 GWP, including R-410A, from 2030.
Does the 15-pound leak repair rule apply to home AC?
No. 40 CFR § 84.106 excludes appliances used for residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pumps.
Sources
- Fact sheet: Final rule reconsidering Technology Transitions requirements (May 2026), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons: Reconsideration of Certain Regulatory Requirements Promulgated Under the Technology Transitions Provisions (91 FR, May 26, 2026), Federal Register
- Part 494 Hydrofluorocarbon Standards and Reporting: frequently asked questions, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- 40 CFR § 82.161, Technician certification, eCFR
- 40 CFR § 84.106, Leak repair, eCFR
How Seayora helps
Equipment records: Keep each unit’s nameplate, refrigerant and service history with the job.
This article is general information, not legal or safety advice. Rules for contractors are set by federal and state agencies and by counties and towns, and they change by regulation, so confirm the current requirement with the agency named in the article before you rely on it.
How we write and check these guides: editorial standards.
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