Welcome to the first issue. Every week: what refrigerant is listing for, what reclaim programs pay, one rule worth knowing, and one tip for your next job. Every number links to its source. Full table: therefrigerantindex.com
This week's prices (online single-cylinder list prices)
| Refrigerant | Median $/lb | Range $/lb | Per cylinder | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R-410A (25 lb) | $8.68 | $8.20–$11.16 | $205–$279 | 5 |
| R-454B (20 lb) | $23.35 | $20.45–$25.00 | $409–$500 | 8 |
| R-32 (20 lb) | $9.95 | $9.25–$10.95 | $185–$219 | 4 |
| R-22 (30 lb) | $11.63 | $9.30–$15.00 | $279–$450 | 5 |
| R-134a (30 lb) | $10.97 | $10.33–$11.83 | $310–$355 | 3 |
| R-404A (24 lb) | $12.46 | $11.46–$13.54 | $275–$325 | 3 |
Sellers this week: Delta Refrigerants, Refrigerants Center, Twisted Refrigerant (wholesale), Ability Refrigerants, Imperial Refrigerants, Refrigerant Depot, GSI Store, OTP HVAC, PES Supply. Prices before shipping, tax and deposits. Every listing and link is on the site.
The quick read: in this week's listings, R-454B's median per pound is about 2.7x R-410A's. R-32 is running close to R-410A per pound.
Buyback: HVAC Distributors' posted reclaim program pays $4.00/lb for R-22 over 97% purity ($3.00 at 90–97%) and $2.00/lb for R-410A over 97%, less $7.50 per tank. It pays nothing on R-32 or R-454B right now. Hudson Technologies and A-Gas quote buyback case by case and don't post rates.
What homeowners are being quoted: published guides put installed R-410A at roughly $40–$125/lb (Angi, PICKHVAC, AC Direct), R-454B at $60–$150/lb (Angi, PICKHVAC), and R-22 at $90–$150/lb (Angi, HomeGuide). Our quote checker compares a quote to those ranges.
One regulatory note
EPA has issued the 2027 HFC allowances. The notice, published October 6 (91 FR 63548), sets 2027 at 229.5 million MTEVe for production and 181.5 million MTEVe for consumption. That's in line with the 60%-of-baseline step that runs through 2028. The next big cut, to 30%, starts January 1, 2029. In plain English: the supply cap on HFCs like R-410A isn't getting tighter next year, but 2029 is coming.
Also worth knowing: since July 27, 2026, there's no federal end date for installing R-410A split systems whose components were all made or imported before Jan 1, 2025 (91 FR 31284). New R-410A systems built from newer components are still not allowed. Some states have stricter rules, so check yours.
Sources: 2027 allowance notice · EPA phasedown FAQ · Technology Transitions reconsideration rule
What this means for your next job
Keep your recovered gas clean and separate. Reclaim programs pay by purity. At HVAC Distributors, R-22 drops from $4.00/lb to $3.00/lb below 97% purity and to $0 below 90%. The Johnstone/A-Gas swap flyer we found is steeper: $2.50/lb at 99.5%+ and $0.50/lb at 90–97.9%. One mixed tank can turn a credit into a disposal fee. Label your cylinders, one refrigerant per tank, and ask your counter what they pay before you choose where to turn it in.
For homeowners checking a quote: ask whether the per-pound price is just the refrigerant or includes labor and diagnostics, and ask whether the leak was found. Refrigerant doesn't get "used up."
The Refrigerant Index is independent. Listing a seller isn't an endorsement, and sponsors never touch the numbers. Not legal or technical advice. — Richard
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