Common Types of Refrigerants Used Today

The most common types of refrigerant in use today are R-410A, R-22, R-404A, and R-407C. Each one is made for certain systems, and they cannot be swapped freely. Knowing the basics of each can help you understand what your system needs.

R-410A

R-410A is the most common refrigerant in home and light commercial air conditioners built from about 2010 to 2024. It does not harm the ozone layer. It is now being phased down for new equipment, but it is still widely used to service existing systems.

R-22

R-22 is an older refrigerant found in air conditioners made before about 2010. New R-22 has not been produced in the United States since 2020. Systems that use it can still be serviced with recovered and recycled supply.

R-404A

R-404A is used in commercial refrigeration, such as freezers, coolers, and cold storage. It is built for low and medium temperature cooling. Like other high-GWP blends, it is being phased down over time.

R-407C

R-407C was made to act much like R-22. It is often used to service or retrofit older R-22 systems, and in some air conditioning and refrigeration units.

Refrigerants are not interchangeable. Each system is built for one type. Using the wrong one can damage the equipment, so the refrigerant must always match the system.

What about newer refrigerants?

Systems built in 2025 and later use lower-impact refrigerants such as R-454B and R-32. These have a much lower global warming potential. They need equipment made for them and cannot be added to older systems.

Who can buy these refrigerants?

All of these refrigerants are regulated. In most cases, the buyer must be EPA Section 608 certified, or buying for a certified technician. IceCold carries the full range of common refrigerants for qualified buyers.