Climate-Friendly Refrigerant Best Practices

Refrigerants are used for heating and cooling and are found in refrigeration systems, HVAC systems, and heat pumps. Refrigerant leaks have significant financial and environmental costs. When leaks occur, refrigerants are released into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change and the deterioration of the ozone layer. Common refrigerants such as Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are powerful greenhouse gases that can be hundreds to thousands of times more potent than Carbon Dioxide.

To protect the environment, save money on refrigerants, and comply with regulations, residents, business owners, technicians, and contractors can employ best practices to reduce refrigerant leaks and make the switch to more climate-friendly refrigerant alternatives.

Starting in 2022, state regulations have banned HFCs from new equipment using refrigerants and required even lower emissions alternatives beginning in 2025. The process to transition to climate-friendly refrigerants should include staying informed about regulations related to the use of climate-friendly refrigerants. You can view a full list of state HFC prohibitions here. You can also view the EPA’s regulatory actions on HFCs here and notices and rulemakings on HFCS here.

View The California Air Resources Board’s Refrigerant Best Management Practices here and see below for common Refrigerant Best Management Practices that are included in the guide.

  • Designate one employee as a Refrigerant Manager
  • Develop a Refrigerant Management Plan and Mission Statement
  • Conduct an inventory of all systems that use refrigerant and their refrigerant charge
  • Check for leaks regularly
  • Use automatic leak detection equipment
  • Conduct monthly manual leak inspections
  • Repair refrigerant leaks promptly
  • Do not “top off” refrigerant
  • Use U.S. EPA certified technicians to conduct repairs
  • Keep records of all refrigerant leaks, repairs, storage, and disposal

For more detailed technical best practice guidelines to prevent leaks, view the following resources from the EPA’s Green Chill Program:

Retrofits can include refrigerant only replacements or using new mechanical systems and updating equipment. View the EPA program, GreenChill's, best practices guideline for commercial refrigeration retrofits here, to learn about low-cost transition options and industry standards and best practices.

Refrigerant leaks in your home lead to reduced efficiency, system damage, negative environmental impacts, and health hazards. Follow the following best practices to prevent refrigerant leaks in your home:

  • Schedule annual HVAC checkups to have technicians inspect your system for leaks
  • Keep an eye out for warning signs of leaks including weak cooling, longer cooling cycles, hissing or bubbling sounds, ice build-up on coils, and higher energy bills
  • Upgrade your system to reduce the likelihood of harmful refrigerant leaks
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