TruFlo guide
R-410A, R-32, and R-454B: what Houston homeowners should know
A practical guide to the R-410A transition, equipment compatibility, and the questions to ask when repairing or replacing a Houston AC system.
What is changing in new equipment
EPA rules for new residential air conditioning equipment are driving a transition away from R-410A. New equipment may use R-32 or R-454B, depending on the manufacturer and model.
That change affects what is built and installed as new equipment. It does not make a working R-410A air conditioner unusable.
Your existing R-410A system can still be used and repaired
EPA states that the Technology Transitions Rule does not limit use of an existing air conditioning system. EPA also says existing systems can continue to be repaired, including with replacement components, for their useful life.
Refrigerant availability and equipment compatibility are different questions. Availability can change over time, while an existing system is evaluated by its condition, its matching components, and the repair that is actually needed.
Compatibility is not determined by what is newest
R-32 and R-454B are not substitutes to put into a system that was not designed for them. EPA explains that its SNAP program and industry standards prohibit using these refrigerants in systems not designed to use them.
For a repair, the relevant question is how to service the equipment already in the home. For a replacement, the relevant question is which refrigerant the proposed matched system is designed to use. A change in new-equipment rules does not turn one system into another.
Questions to ask when planning service or replacement
Ask whether the work is a repair to the existing system or a full equipment replacement, which refrigerant the equipment is designed to use, and which indoor and outdoor components are intended to work together.
Leave refrigerant and sealed-system work to an EPA-certified technician. Homeowners should not open equipment or handle refrigerant.
TruFlo repair or replace rules
These are TruFlo rules for discussing an AC system. They are not industry statistics. A technician confirms the condition on site.
| Lean | TruFlo rule |
|---|---|
| Rule of thumb | As a rule of thumb, replacement starts to make sense when a repair would cost more than 50% of a replacement, and a technician confirms that on site. |
| depends | Under about 10 years, a repair is usually the lean, unless the system has a refrigerant leak in a spot that cannot be repaired. |
| depends | Between about 10 and 15 years it depends on the refrigerant, the remaining parts warranty, the repair history and the repair cost against replacement. |
| replace | Over about 15 years the lean is replacement, unless the system is still under parts warranty, has not needed repeat repairs, and the repair is small next to a new system. |
| replace | A system still on R-22 leans replacement, because R-22 is being phased out, is getting more expensive, and matching equipment is getting harder to find. |
| repair | A system still under parts warranty leans repair. |
| replace | Two or three repairs in the last two years leans replacement. |
| replace | A home that will not come down under 78 degrees, after a technician has confirmed the system is working properly and the house is well insulated and sealed, leans replacement. |
| depends | Ductwork generally lasts about 15 to 20 years, and a technician confirms its condition on site. |
Sources
- EPA, Frequent Questions on the Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons (fetched 2026-09-18)
- EPA, Technology Transitions Reconsideration Rule Technical Fact Sheet (fetched 2026-09-18)
- EPA, Section 608 Technician Certification Requirements (fetched 2026-09-18)
- TruFlo A/C & Heating repair-or-replace guidance (fetched 2026-09-18)