If you bought an air conditioner or heat pump any time in the last fifteen years, it almost certainly ran on R410A. That era is ending. Under the federal AIM Act, the EPA set a schedule that pushes residential equipment to refrigerants with a much lower global warming potential, and as of 2025 new residential systems are built around two replacements: R32 and R454B.
NG Trade carries both, so this page covers what each one is, which series runs which, and what the switch means when you're the one buying.
Why R410A is going away
Global warming potential, or GWP, is a score that compares a refrigerant's climate impact to carbon dioxide. R410A scores about 2,088. The EPA's phasedown caps new residential equipment at a GWP of 700, which R410A fails by a wide margin. Manufacturers responded by moving new equipment to two lower-GWP options.
R410A equipment already installed in homes keeps working and can still be serviced. But new systems sold today are built for the new refrigerants, and that's what you should buy. A new R410A system in 2026 would be a system designed around a refrigerant whose supply is shrinking by law. NG Trade doesn't carry R410A equipment.
R32 in plain terms
R32 is a single-component refrigerant with a GWP of about 675. It's been the standard in Asia, Europe, and Australia for years, with millions of installed units, so it's the more proven of the two replacements. It moves heat efficiently, which helps systems hit strong SEER2 numbers, and because it's a single substance it's simple to recover and recharge during service.
At NG Trade, R32 runs in the SAJA Single Zone and SAJA Multi Zone series.
R454B in plain terms
R454B is a blend, mostly R32 with a share of R1234yf, that brings GWP down to about 466. That's the lowest of the mainstream replacements, and it behaves very similarly to R410A in operating pressure, which is why many US manufacturers chose it as their direct successor. It's the refrigerant most large American HVAC brands standardized on for 2025 equipment.
At NG Trade, R454B runs in BLU+ Single Zone, BLU+ Multi Zone, BLU+ STAR, and EZ Central.
Side by side
| R32 | R454B | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Single component | Blend (R32 + R1234yf) |
| GWP | About 675 | About 466 |
| Track record | Years of global use | Newer, chosen by major US brands |
| NG Trade series | SAJA Single, SAJA Multi | BLU+ Single, BLU+ Multi, BLU+ STAR, EZ Central |
Is one better than the other?
No. They're different answers to the same regulation, and both are fully compliant for new installs. R32 has the longer field history; R454B has the lower GWP. Pick your system by capacity, efficiency, and features first. The refrigerant comes with the series, and either way you're buying equipment designed for the rules as they stand now, not equipment racing a phaseout clock.
The safety note your installer already knows
Both R32 and R454B are classified A2L, which means low toxicity and mild flammability. The classification sounds alarming but mostly changes things on the installer's side: leak sensors where required, updated handling procedures, current tooling. Equipment built for A2L refrigerants is designed and certified for them, and every NG Trade system is ETL listed and AHRI certified. Install stays where it always belonged, with an EPA-608 certified technician.
What this means when you buy
- New equipment should run R32 or R454B. Both are current, compliant, and serviceable for the long haul.
- Don't buy new R410A equipment in 2026, whatever the discount.
- Refrigerant follows the series. SAJA runs R32, the BLU+ lines and EZ Central run R454B.
- Every product page lists its refrigerant in the specs table, so you always know what you're looking at.
Still deciding between series? Browse the catalogue or call (877) 811-1251, in English or Spanish.
