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Get a Free QuoteTexas has over 10 million residential AC units — more than almost any state. R-22 is already banned. R-410A is phasing out under the EPA AIM Act. Every new system now uses R-32 or R-454B. Here is what every Texas homeowner needs to know.
Last updated March 2026
2026 Update: The federal 25C heat pump tax credit expired December 31, 2025. There is no federal tax credit for heat pumps or AC in 2026. Texas utility rebates (Oncor, CenterPoint, Austin Energy, CPS Energy) remain available. Current TX heat pump rebates
Texas is a cooling-dominant state — roughly 80% of HVAC energy use goes to air conditioning. That means more refrigerant per household, more stress on systems, and a bigger impact when regulations change. Here is the timeline every Texas homeowner needs to understand.
GWP
1,810
Transition Year
2020
Production and import banned January 1, 2020. Only reclaimed R-22 available for existing systems at $75-150+ per pound.
GWP
2,088
Transition Year
2025-2026
EPA AIM Act mandates phase-down. Manufacturers transitioning all new product lines. Still available for servicing existing systems.
GWP
675
Transition Year
2025+
Used in ductless mini-splits and some ducted systems. 68% lower GWP than R-410A. Higher efficiency in cooling-dominant climates like TX.
GWP
466
Transition Year
2025+
Used in ducted central AC and heat pump systems. 78% lower GWP than R-410A. Near drop-in replacement for existing ductwork.
10M+
Residential AC units in Texas
80/20
Cooling vs heating energy split
$75-150+
Per pound for banned R-22 refrigerant
If your Texas AC system was installed before 2010, it likely uses R-22. Production and import of R-22 was banned on January 1, 2020 under the EPA Clean Air Act. Only reclaimed refrigerant is available — and the price keeps climbing.
AC unit installed before 2010 (especially before 2006)
Nameplate on outdoor unit says "R-22" or "HCFC-22"
Technician quoted $75-150+ per pound for refrigerant
Yellow/green label (not pink like R-410A units)
System is 15-25+ years old and still original
Plan for replacement — do not wait for an emergency failure in July
Get quotes now while HVAC contractors are less busy (spring is ideal)
New R-454B ducted system is a direct upgrade path for most TX homes
TX utility rebates apply to high-efficiency replacement equipment
A new 20+ SEER2 system will cut cooling bills 30-50% vs an old R-22 unit
Texas urgency: An R-22 system failure during a Texas summer is an emergency. Emergency replacements cost 20-40% more than planned installations due to rush scheduling. If your system uses R-22, replace it on your timeline — not during a 105-degree week.
Both R-32 and R-454B are approved replacements under the EPA AIM Act. Both are safe for residential use and eligible for Texas utility rebates. Here is how they compare.
GWP
1,810
Very High
Safety
A1 (Non-flammable)
Status
Banned — production ended 2020
GWP
2,088
Very High
Safety
A1 (Non-flammable)
Status
Phasing out — new equipment transitioning
GWP
675
Medium
Safety
A2L (Mildly flammable)
Status
Current — utility rebate eligible
Brands
Mitsubishi, Fujitsu, LG, Daikin
GWP
466
Low
Safety
A2L (Mildly flammable)
Status
Current — utility rebate eligible
Brands
Carrier, Lennox, Trane, Bosch, Goodman/Daikin
Higher cooling efficiency — ideal for TX 80/20 cooling split
Lower refrigerant charge = less environmental risk per unit
Best for ductless mini-splits and multi-zone systems
Proven in hot climates globally since 2013 (Japan, Australia)
Lowest GWP (466) — 78% lower than R-410A
Near drop-in for existing ductwork (most TX homes are ducted)
Dominant in central AC/heat pump systems — the TX standard
Carrier's "Puron Advance" branding signals R-410A successor
Most Texas homes use ducted central AC or heat pump systems, so R-454B models dominate the market here. Ductless mini-splits (R-32) are growing for additions and supplemental cooling.
| Brand | Model | Refrigerant | Type | SEER2 | TX Popular |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrier | Infinity 24 / Greenspeed | R-454B | Ducted Central AC/HP | 24.5 | |
| Trane | XV20i / XR16 | R-454B | Ducted Central AC/HP | 22.0 | |
| Lennox | XP25 / XC21 | R-454B | Ducted Central AC/HP | 25.0 | |
| Goodman/Daikin | GSXH5 / DZ20VC | R-454B | Ducted Central AC/HP | 20.0 | |
| Bosch | IDS 2.0 | R-454B | Ducted Central HP | 20.0 | Niche |
| Mitsubishi | Hyper-Heat (H2i) | R-32 | Ductless / Ducted Mini-Split | 33.1 | Niche |
| Fujitsu | Halcyon / XLTH | R-32 | Ductless Mini-Split | 30.5 | Niche |
| LG | Red / Art Cool | R-32 | Ductless / Multi-Zone | 27.0 | Niche |
| Daikin | FIT / Emura | R-32 | Ducted / Ductless | 18.0 | Niche |
Infinity 24 / Greenspeed
Ducted Central AC/HP
XV20i / XR16
Ducted Central AC/HP
XP25 / XC21
Ducted Central AC/HP
GSXH5 / DZ20VC
Ducted Central AC/HP
IDS 2.0
Ducted Central HP
Hyper-Heat (H2i)
Ductless / Ducted Mini-Split
Halcyon / XLTH
Ductless Mini-Split
Red / Art Cool
Ductless / Multi-Zone
FIT / Emura
Ducted / Ductless
Texas pattern: Most TX homes have ducted central systems, making R-454B the dominant refrigerant for replacements. Ductless mini-splits (R-32) are growing for room additions, garages, sunrooms, and homes without ductwork. Both qualify for TX utility rebates.
Texas has no single statewide rebate program — instead, individual utilities offer their own incentives. Here are the major rebate programs that apply when upgrading from R-22 or R-410A to a new R-32 or R-454B system.
Electric rate: ~15¢/kWh
Covers DFW metro. Rebate for qualifying high-efficiency heat pump or AC.
Electric rate: ~16¢/kWh
Standard offer program. Higher tiers for ENERGY STAR certified equipment.
Electric rate: ~12¢/kWh
Most generous in TX. Includes 0% APR financing. Municipal utility, not deregulated.
Electric rate: ~12.5¢/kWh
Per-ton rebate scales with system size. Municipal utility with strong rebate history.
ERCOT deregulated market: About 85% of Texas is in the deregulated ERCOT market (Oncor, CenterPoint territory). Rebates come from your transmission/distribution utility, not your retail electric provider (REP). Austin Energy and CPS Energy are municipal utilities outside ERCOT deregulation. Full TX rebate guide
The refrigerant transition happened alongside the switch to SEER2 testing standards. For Texas, this is actually good news — SEER2 uses hotter, more realistic test conditions that better represent what your AC faces during a Texas summer.
DOE South region requirement (effective Jan 2023)
All new R-32 and R-454B systems meet or exceed this
Premium models reach 20-33 SEER2
Higher SEER2 = bigger savings in TX cooling-dominant climate
SEER2 uses higher outdoor temps and duct pressure
Old 16 SEER ≈ 15.2 SEER2 (ratings appear lower)
More accurate for real TX conditions (95-110°F days)
Do not compare SEER2 to old SEER numbers directly
Upgrading R-22 (10 SEER) → R-454B (20 SEER2) saves 40-50%
Avg TX home: $150-250+/month summer cooling bills
Higher SEER2 pays back faster in hot climates
New systems also dehumidify better (critical in Houston/Gulf)
Both R-32 and R-454B are classified as A2L — "mildly flammable." This sounds concerning but is well understood and managed by modern equipment design.
Requires a high-energy ignition source — no risk from matches or lighters
Flame propagation is extremely slow compared to flammable gases
Concentration must reach specific thresholds before any risk exists
Normal residential use never approaches flammable concentrations
Less flammable than propane (used in millions of Texas grills)
Refrigerant leak detection sensors in every indoor unit
Automatic shutoff valves that close if a leak is detected
Self-diagnostic systems that alert homeowners and technicians
Ventilation controls that activate automatically during leak events
UL-certified and tested beyond residential use requirements
No special requirements for Texas homeowners. You do not need additional ventilation, special detectors, or any home modifications. Safety features are built into the equipment. Millions of homes in Japan, Australia, and Europe have used A2L systems for over a decade with an excellent safety record.
If your Texas AC or heat pump uses R-410A, there is no emergency. Here is the timeline.
Your R-410A system works fine. Continue using it normally. No performance or safety concerns.
R-410A refrigerant remains available for recharges and repairs. Your HVAC tech can service it as usual.
System reaches end of life (12-20 years in TX heat). R-410A may cost more as supply decreases.
New unit will use R-454B (ducted) or R-32 (ductless). Your technician handles the full transition. TX utility rebates apply.
Texas-specific note: Systems in TX work harder than in cooler states — running 2,000+ cooling hours per year. This means TX units reach end-of-life faster (often 12-15 years vs 15-20 in the North). If your R-410A system is 10+ years old and needing frequent repairs, a proactive replacement to R-454B may save money long-term.
Yes. R-22 (Freon) production and import was banned nationwide on January 1, 2020 under the EPA Clean Air Act. Only reclaimed or recycled R-22 is available for existing systems, and prices have soared to $75-150+ per pound. If your Texas AC still uses R-22, plan for replacement — recharging is increasingly expensive and the system is 15+ years old.
R-410A is not outright banned, but it is being phased down under the EPA AIM Act. Manufacturers are transitioning all new product lines to R-32 and R-454B. You can still service existing R-410A systems, and refrigerant remains available for repairs. However, new high-efficiency equipment increasingly uses the newer refrigerants.
Yes. Both carry an A2L safety classification (mildly flammable), meaning they require a high-energy ignition source and have very slow flame propagation. Modern systems include leak detection sensors, automatic shutoff valves, and ventilation controls. Millions of homes worldwide already use A2L systems safely. No special home modifications are needed.
Absolutely. R-32 actually performs better in high-temperature cooling than R-410A, making it well-suited for Texas summers. R-454B also handles high ambient temperatures effectively. Both refrigerants are designed for the next generation of SEER2-rated equipment, which is optimized for hotter test conditions that better reflect real-world Texas weather.
No. Your existing R-410A system is fine for the rest of its useful life, typically 12-20 years. R-410A refrigerant will remain available for servicing. There is no requirement to replace a working system. When it eventually needs replacement, the new unit will use R-32 or R-454B.
Texas falls in the DOE South region, requiring minimum 15 SEER2 for central AC and heat pumps (effective January 1, 2023). All new R-32 and R-454B equipment meets or exceeds this. The SEER2 rating uses more demanding test conditions that better represent real-world Texas performance, especially at high outdoor temperatures.
All major TX utility rebates apply to qualifying high-efficiency equipment regardless of refrigerant type. Oncor offers $600/unit, CenterPoint ~$500, Austin Energy up to $3,000 with 0% APR financing, and CPS Energy $100-275/ton. The key qualification is efficiency rating (SEER2, EER2, HSPF2), not the specific refrigerant.
GWP (Global Warming Potential) measures how much heat a greenhouse gas traps relative to CO2. R-410A has a GWP of 2,088, while R-454B is 466 and R-32 is 675. Texas has over 10 million residential AC units — the aggregate refrigerant impact is massive. The EPA AIM Act mandates a nationwide phase-down, and Texas is one of the largest markets affected.
The federal 25C energy efficiency tax credit expired December 31, 2025. There is no federal tax credit for heat pumps or AC systems purchased in 2026, regardless of refrigerant type. Focus on your local TX utility rebates (Oncor, CenterPoint, Austin Energy, CPS Energy) for financial incentives.
Yes, technicians need A2L-specific certification to work with R-32 and R-454B. This training is already widely available and most licensed Texas HVAC contractors have completed it. When choosing an installer, verify they have A2L certification and experience with the newer refrigerants.
Every system we install in Texas uses R-32 or R-454B. We handle utility rebate paperwork, ensure proper A2L-certified installation, and size your system for Texas heat.
Complete pricing breakdown for heat pump and AC systems in Texas, including utility rebates.
Read moreOncor, CenterPoint, Austin Energy, CPS Energy — every TX utility rebate explained.
Read moreR-454B ducted vs R-32 ductless: which system type fits your Texas home?
Read moreCost and efficiency comparison for Texas — where cooling drives the decision.
Read moreHouston and Gulf Coast homeowners: dehumidification performance matters.
Read moreUnderstanding the new efficiency ratings and TX minimum requirements.
Read moreRefrigerant data: EPA AIM Act final rule (2024), ASHRAE 34 safety classifications.
R-22 phase-out: EPA Clean Air Act Section 608, January 1, 2020 production ban.
GWP values: IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) 100-year values.
SEER2 standards: DOE Regional Standards, effective January 1, 2023 (South region: 15 SEER2 minimum).
TX utility rebates: Oncor, CenterPoint, Austin Energy, CPS Energy program pages (accessed March 2026).
Equipment models and specs: Manufacturer specification sheets, January-March 2026.