Morey Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling, Inc.: EPA Reverses Refrigerant Installation Deadline — San Diego HVAC Company Explains What It Means for Home AC Systems
Sep 18, 2026
Morey Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling, Inc. explains why a deadline homeowners thought was already in effect just got rolled back, and what it means for anyone weighing AC repair against an AC replacement.
San Diego, United States, September 18, 2026 -- On May 21, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized a rule reversing a refrigerant installation deadline that many San Diego homeowners and even some contractors still believe is in effect. The rule, effective July 27, 2026, removes the January 1, 2026 cutoff for installing residential air conditioning and heat pump equipment using R-410A refrigerant, so long as that equipment was manufactured or imported before January 1, 2025. Morey Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling, Inc., a San Diego HVAC company, says the reversal has caused real confusion among homeowners trying to plan an AC repair or replacement.
What Actually Changed
Morey Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Inc. — proudly serving San Diego County with expert plumbing, heating, and cooling services.
Under the EPA's 2023 Technology Transitions Rule, refrigerants with a global warming potential above 700, including R-410A, could no longer be manufactured for new residential air conditioners and heat pumps starting January 1, 2025. The rule originally set a follow-up deadline of January 1, 2026, after which existing pre-2025 R-410A equipment could no longer be installed, even if it was still sitting in a distributor's warehouse. In response to industry petitions warning that this would strand hundreds of millions of dollars in usable equipment, the EPA's May 2026 final rule eliminated that installation deadline entirely for qualifying pre-2025 inventory. Morey Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling, Inc., a San Diego HVAC company, has been tracking the rule change closely on behalf of its customers.
"We had customers calling us in a bit of a panic earlier this year, worried they had to replace a perfectly good system before January 1," said Ken Morey owner of Morey Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling, Inc., an AC repair company serving San Diego County, CA. "Now the opposite is true. Existing R-410A equipment can still be installed, and systems already in a home can be serviced indefinitely. We want our customers making that decision based on their system's actual condition, not a deadline that no longer exists."
What This Means for San Diego Homeowners
An existing R-410A air conditioner does not need to be replaced because of this rule. Routine AC maintenance and AC repair on current systems remain fully legal and supported indefinitely, regardless of refrigerant type. For homeowners who do need a new system, air conditioning installation options now include both remaining R-410A inventory and newer equipment using low-GWP refrigerants such as R-454B or R-32, which are becoming standard across most major manufacturers.
Morey Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling, Inc. recommends that homeowners base a repair-versus-replace decision on their system's age, repair history, and efficiency rather than on refrigerant regulations, since those regulations no longer impose the urgency many people were told to expect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to replace my R-410A air conditioner right now?
No. The EPA's May 2026 rule removed the installation deadline for qualifying pre-2025 R-410A equipment, and existing systems already installed in a home can continue to be serviced and repaired with no expiration date.
Can an AC repair company still service or recharge an older R-410A system?
Yes. Servicing, recharging, and repairing existing R-410A systems remains fully legal indefinitely. The EPA's refrigerant phase-down rules apply to newly manufactured equipment, not to maintaining systems already in use.
What refrigerant do new air conditioners use now?
Most new residential systems use R-454B or R-32, both classified as A2L refrigerants under ASHRAE Standard 34. They carry a mild flammability rating and require systems to include features such as integrated leak detection.
About Morey Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling, Inc.
Morey Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling, Inc. is a family-owned, BBB-accredited contractor that has served San Diego County since 2000, providing plumbing, heating installation, heating repair, heating maintenance, air conditioning repair, AC maintenance, and air conditioning installation. Licensed and insured under Contractor's License #967435, the company backs its work with warranties of up to 10 years and offers free, no-obligation estimates. San Diego homeowners searching for AC repair are encouraged to contact Morey Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling, Inc. at (858) 505-4500.
Contact Info:
Name: Ken Morey
Email: Send Email
Organization: Morey Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling, Inc.
Address: 7895 Convoy Ct Ste 13, San Diego, CA 92111
Phone: (858) 505-4500
Website: https://moreyphc.com/
Release ID: 89203664
Should you detect any errors, issues, or discrepancies with the content contained within this press release, or if you need assistance with a press release takedown, we kindly request that you inform us immediately by contacting [email protected] (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our expert team will be available to promptly respond and take necessary steps within the next 8 hours to resolve any identified issues or guide you through the removal process. We value the trust placed in us by our readers and remain dedicated to providing accurate and reliable information.
Philippines seek WTA exemption as Alexandra Eala skips China Open for Asian Games
The Philippines Tennis Association (Philta) has filed a request with the WTA on behalf of Alexandra Eala, requesting an exemption from the mandatory China Open so that the world No 18 can represent her country at the Asian Games. Eala, who has become a fan favourite with wins over some of the biggest names on the circuit including Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff, is the highest-ranked player in the women’s singles draw at the Asian Games, which begin on Saturday and conclude on October...
Hong Kong tennis bosses hail Victoria Park revamp plans, eye WTA, ATP 500 tournaments
Hong Kong’s decades-old tennis facilities at Victoria Park will be redeveloped, the city’s leader said on Wednesday, a move that could open the way to holding bigger tournaments in the future. Speaking during his annual Policy Address, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the plan was “to strengthen the promotion of ‘sports and mega-events’.” At the moment, Hong Kong holds the rights to stage a WTA and an ATP tournament, both at the 250 level. The first of those is the Prudential Hong Kong Open...
X Games League to hold first winter draft, with Eileen Gu expected to be top pick
The MoonPay X Games League will hold its inaugural winter draft this week, betting that a team-based format and closer ties with the Olympic movement can build on strong audience growth for action sports, CEO Jeremy Bloom said. Eileen Gu, the most decorated freestyle skier in Olympic history with three golds and three silvers, is expected to be selected first overall. The draft follows the debut of the X Games Summer League, which featured teams representing Los Angeles, New York, Sao Paulo...
Sunday’s Sha Tin races cancelled due to state funeral for ex-Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa
Sunday’s Sha Tin meeting has been cancelled because of the state funeral for Hong Kong’s first chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa. In a brief statement on Wednesday, the Hong Kong Jockey Club said the 10-race card would not go ahead as a mark of respect for Tung, who was also the vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. Tung’s vigil will be held on Saturday, with a public memorial and funeral set to take place on Sunday. “In deference to the...
Top jockey Hugh Bowman weighs up surgery v cortisone injection to repair hip labral tear
Hugh Bowman is weighing up whether to undergo surgery or keep his Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) hopes alive with a short-term solution, after scans revealed the top Australian jockey has a labral tear in his right hip. The 46-year-old faces at least four months out of the saddle if he opts for surgery, but a cortisone injection would only force him out of action for a few weeks. Bowman rode at the season opener at Sha Tin on September 6, guiding Joyful Joy to victory, but was forced out...
For Phurba Tenjing Sherpa, climbing Everest now a way to help others ‘fulfil their dreams’
Mount Everest, known to all, understood by few – including someone who has been up and down the treacherous peak almost 20 times. More than 7,500 individuals have reached the top of the highest mountain on Earth since it was first conquered by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay on May 29, 1953, and there have been more than 15,780 successful ascents, with climbers and guides returning for repeated attempts. It has also claimed the lives of at least 346 people, which is the number since records...
SCMP Best Bets: Live Wire can shock his rivals at Happy Valley
Jay Rooney BUNTA BABY - R7 (5) Won three C&D races last term and gets an ideal set-up to swoop late here Owen Goulding GIANT LEAP - R4 (4) Lurks on a dangerous mark, has a 10lb claimer up and trialled well leading in Paul Lally LIVE WIRE - R4 (3) Got off the mark to end last season and has trialled well ahead of this run Phillip Woo DAN ATTACK - R2 (8) Has solid Happy Valley 1,200m form and does go well fresh Trackwork Spy LIVE WIRE - R4 (3) Game win to break his maiden on final start of...
Celebrated Everest guide Phurba Tenjing Sherpa fears way of life under threat
Phurba Tenjing Sherpa has climbed Mount Everest 18 times over the years but fears he may now be a dying breed, with climate change one day making it unscalable and societal change leaving fewer willing to risk its dangers. The 37-year-old, who runs his own business guiding people up and down Earth’s highest peak, said one of the biggest challenge his industry faced was the fact “the Sherpa community is no longer climbing”. While the veteran guide said he had never been to school, he believed the...
From barefoot hockey to Asian Games, India’s Lalremsiami Hmarzote chases golden dream
When an 11-year-old Lalremsiami Hmarzote told her parents she wanted to leave home to take up a place at one of India’s top hockey academies, she first had to explain to them what the sport was. Less than a decade later, Lalremsiami would become the first female Olympian and the first Asian Games medallist from the northeastern state of Mizoram. Lalremsiami, who fell in love with the sport playing barefoot on dirt pitches in the Himalayan town of Kolasib, is now India’s offensive linchpin as...
SCMP Best Bets: Live Wire can shock his rivals at Happy Valley
Jay Rooney BUNTA BABY - R7 (5) Won three C&D races last term and gets an ideal set-up to swoop late here Owen Goulding GIANT LEAP - R4 (4) Lurks on a dangerous mark, has a 10lb claimer up and trialled well leading in Paul Lally LIVE WIRE - R4 (3) Got off the mark to end last season and has trialled well ahead of this run Phillip Woo DAN ATTACK - R2 (8) Has solid Happy Valley 1,200m form and does go well fresh Trackwork Spy LIVE WIRE - R4 (3) Game win to break his maiden on final start of...
China make late change as they target 7 badminton gold medals at Asian Games
The Chinese Badminton Association has announced, just four days before the start of the Asian Games, that men’s doubles player Chen Boyang had withdrawn because of illness, with He Jiting named as his replacement alongside Liu Yi. On Monday, the association revealed that Chen had suffered a sudden illness. Following consultations between national team doctors and specialists from several hospitals, medical experts confirmed his condition would prevent him from competing. “To protect the...
Who wins at Happy Valley? Bunta Baby a brilliant chance first up with Purton on
Wednesday’s eight-race card at Happy Valley shapes as another even night of racing at the city circuit, with the Class Two Shek O Handicap (1,650m) the highlight. Jay Rooney is in the hot seat to provide an extended rundown of his selections. Race 1 – Class Five Hoi Mei Handicap (1,000m) Me Tsui Yu-sak produced Lucy In The Sky to win on the seven-day backup at Sha Tin and can do the same with Macanese Master, who drops back to his preferred trip after a solid fourth over 1,200m last week. Race...
YOUR NEWS, OUR NETWORK.
Do you have Great News you want to tell the world?
Be it updates about your business or your community, you can make sure that it’s heard by submitting your story to our network reaching hundreds of news sites across 6 verticals.