Reclaimed Refrigerant and System Integrity: Understanding a Changing Supply Landscape

The refrigerant used in air conditioners and heat pumps is getting harder to come by, as international and Canadian rules phase down the chemicals (HFCs) that most cooling systems rely on. In Canada, this squeeze will tighten further in 2029, 2034, and 2036 under regulations called ODSHAR. As new refrigerant supply shrinks, more of what's available will come from "reclaimed" refrigerant — gas recovered from old systems, cleaned up, and reused.

The key point for homeowners: reclaimed refrigerant isn't automatically as good as new. Industry standards (AHRI 700) set specific purity requirements it has to meet — removing moisture, acids, and other contaminants that can corrode parts, damage compressors, and make a system run less efficiently. When reclamation is done properly, with real testing, the recycled refrigerant performs the same as new refrigerant. When it isn't tested and verified, it can cause the same problems as low-quality refrigerant: higher energy bills, more wear, and a shorter system lifespan.

For most homeowners, this is background news rather than something requiring immediate action. It doesn't change how your current air conditioner or heat pump works today. But as refrigerant supplies tighten over the next decade, it may become more relevant when you eventually need a system serviced, recharged, or replaced — since the refrigerant used could increasingly be reclaimed rather than newly manufactured.