Florida R-22 replacement guide: R-410A vs R-32 vs R-454B

Your outdoor nameplate tells you which refrigerant you have. R-22 is the old stuff. R-410A is what a lot of working Florida homes still run. R-32 and R-454B are newer lower-GWP options for new equipment. You cannot “just top off” across those types. EPA does not make you rip out a working system. When you do replace, indoor and outdoor need to match. Not a contractor quote.

The four refrigerants, in plain words

R-22 (HCFC-22)

Ozone-depleting. U.S. production and import of new HCFC-22 ended January 1, 2020. You can keep using a working R-22 system. Service uses reclaimed or stockpiled R-22. EPA says there are no drop-in replacements.

R-410A

Common alternative in newer systems for a long stretch. Zero ozone depletion. EPA SNAP GWP listed at 2,090. Existing systems can still be used and serviced. New manufacture and import of high-GWP residential equipment is under AIM Act Technology Transitions rules.

R-32

A2L, mildly flammable. EPA SNAP GWP listed at 675. For new equipment with use conditions. Not a pour-in for an old R-22 or R-410A box.

R-454B

A2L. EPA SNAP GWP listed at 470. Same story as R-32: the factory builds the system for it. You read the nameplate.

Technology Transitions sets a 700 GWP limit for stationary residential and light commercial AC/heat pumps for manufacture and import starting January 1, 2025. Pre-2025 inventory can still be installed until that supply runs out, per EPA’s May 2026 fact sheet. There is no installation deadline when all specified components were manufactured or imported before January 1, 2025.

Why you cannot “just top off” across types

R-410A runs at much higher pressure than R-22. Do not charge an R-22 system with R-410A. R-32 and R-454B belong in equipment designed for them. A Section 608 certified tech recovers what’s left before any conversion talk.

Florida humidity angle

Down here the AC has to run long enough to pull water out of the air. An oversized replacement that short-cycles will not wring moisture. Ballpark size first with the tonnage calculator.

How to read your outdoor nameplate

Look for “Refrigerant,” “R-,” or “HFC / HCFC.” Take a phone photo in daylight. Mode Off first if you’re leaning near the outdoor box. You’re not opening the sealed system.

Common questions

Do I have to replace my R-22 or R-410A system right now?

No. EPA does not require you to replace working equipment just because the refrigerant is older.

Informational guide. No form and no phone number. Ask if techs are Section 608 certified. Sources retrieved Sep 7, 2026: EPA SNAP, AIM Act / Technology Transitions, AHRI “A Perfect Match,” EPA homeowner FAQ.