The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced new refrigerant regulations that will significantly impact commercial refrigeration systems across the United States. These changes affect grocery stores, restaurants, cold storage facilities, food processing plants, and other businesses that rely on commercial refrigeration equipment.

Sacramento Refrigeration Inc, a licensed California commercial refrigeration contractor, is providing this notice to help our customers plan ahead and remain compliant.

What’s Changing in Commercial Refrigeration?

Beginning January 1, 2026, the EPA will prohibit the installation of new commercial refrigeration systems that use certain high-GWP (Global Warming Potential) refrigerants, including:

• R-404A
• R-448A
• R-449A

Any refrigeration equipment using these refrigerants must be installed and fully operational before January 1, 2026 to remain compliant with EPA regulations.

This rule applies nationwide and impacts many retail food refrigeration systems, including supermarket rack systems and remote condensing units.

EPA Technology Transitions Final Rule (Summary)

Under the EPA Technology Transitions Final Rule, new installation limits are based on refrigerant GWP levels:

Retail Food – Remote Condensing Units

• ≥ 200 lb charge (excluding high-temperature cascade systems)
  • GWP Limit: 150
  • Compliance Date: January 1, 2026
  • Requirement: New installations prohibited above the limit
• < 200 lb charge or high-temperature cascade systems
  • GWP Limit: 300
  • Compliance Date: January 1, 2026
  • Requirement: New installations prohibited above the limit

(Source: EPA Technology Transitions Final Rule Fact Sheet)

What Comes Next: A2L Refrigerants

Going forward, all new commercial refrigeration systems must use A2L refrigerants, which are designed to meet federal environmental standards and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Common A2L refrigerants include:

• R-454A
• R-454C
• R-455A

These refrigerants have significantly lower GWP compared to legacy refrigerants and are becoming the new standard for commercial refrigeration installations.

Important Notice on Refrigerant Compliance

Starting January 1, 2026, the EPA will no longer allow the installation of refrigeration systems using R-404A, R-448A, or R-449A.

• Existing systems may continue operating
• New installations after the deadline are prohibited
• All future systems must use A2L refrigerants

Planning ahead is critical to avoid project delays, equipment availability issues, and compliance problems.

What Commercial Refrigeration Owners Should Do Now

✔ Plan early to avoid last-minute installation delays as the 2026 deadline approaches
✔ Confirm project timelines to ensure any systems using R-404A, R-448A, or R-449A are installed before January 1, 2026
✔ Explore compliant A2L refrigeration systems with a qualified commercial refrigeration contractor
✔ Contact Sacramento Refrigeration Inc to discuss compliant options and upcoming A2L system availability.

A2L Refrigerants – Quick FAQ

What is an A2L refrigerant?

A2L refrigerants are a newer class of refrigerants with lower global warming potential (GWP) than traditional refrigerants. They are classified as mildly flammable, requiring proper design, installation, and safety procedures, but are safe when installed correctly by trained professionals.

Why are A2L refrigerants required?

The EPA is phasing out high-GWP refrigerants such as R-404A, R-448A, and R-449A to reduce environmental impact. As of January 1, 2026, systems using those refrigerants can no longer be installed.

Which A2L refrigerants will replace them?

Common replacements include:

• R-454A
• R-454C
• R-455A

What does this mean for my business?

If you plan to install refrigeration equipment using R-404A, R-448A, or R-449A, it must be installed and operational before January 1, 2026. After that date, only A2L refrigerant systems will be allowed for new installations.

How can Sacramento Refrigeration Inc help?

Sacramento Refrigeration Inc helps commercial clients:

• Select EPA-compliant A2L refrigeration systems
• Confirm installation timelines
• Prepare for regulatory changes
• Stay compliant with federal and California refrigeration regulations

Need Help With EPA Refrigerant Compliance?

If you operate a commercial refrigeration system in California, now is the time to plan for the 2026 EPA refrigerant changes.

Contact Sacramento Refrigeration Inc today to discuss your options and stay ahead of the transition.

In certain industries, commercial refrigeration units are a very important part of business. From the kitchen of a restaurant to coolers found in supermarkets, convenience stores, and hotel gift shops, keeping food and beverages cold for customers and employees is a necessity. If your unit breaks down, you risk melted frozen foods, spoiled refrigerated foods, and lost revenue. Not only do you potentially lose your stock, which can grind your business to a halt, but you also will have to invest in a new unit or pay thousands of dollars in repairs. Fortunately, with a few steps, you can prolong the life of your unit and avoid a complete refrigeration breakdown.

Keeping your cooler, refrigerator, or freezer in tip-top condition is a must to avoid a complete breakdown. You can even look for certain signs of malfunction. Things like puddles on the inside or outside of your cooler may indicate a leak in your drainage line or a breakdown in a main component. Fluctuating temperatures may indicate that there’s a problem with the condenser, evaporator, fan, thermometer, or other part. If the unit is unable to reach a certain temperature, this could be a sign of a failing part or a broken door seal. If your unit isn’t functioning in the way it should, you need to have it inspected immediately by a knowledgeable refrigeration mechanic, even if the problem seems minor.

The placement of your unit is also very important. If your refrigerator isn’t vented or the fans are obstructed, it will not be able to cool effectively and efficiently, which can lead to a breakdown of key components like the compressor. This can lead to hundreds or even thousands of dollars in repairs, so you should make sure to check the placement of your commercial refrigeration unit  make sure all fans are able to run freely, and keep vents away from walls. The contents are also an important thing to consider. If overloaded, your refrigerator may be unable to maintain the proper temperature and may work too hard to cool off, leading to premature failure of crucial components.

Regular maintenance performed by a professional is necessary to increase the lifespan of your commercial refrigeration system such as a walk-in cooler, refrigerator, or freezer. While you can inspect certain aspects of your unit yourself, there are other parts that need to be inspected several times a year. A professional will inspect and clean your evaporator and condenser coils, refill refrigerant and repair leaks as needed, and can make sure that your equipment is running as it should. All maintenance should be performed by a licensed and experienced professional.  

The best way to avoid a complete breakdown of your system is to use it as intended, inspect it regularly, and have maintenance performed often. Even though things like maintenance and minor repairs do cost money, you’ll save in the long-run by avoiding unnecessary and easily preventable breakdowns that could potentially cost thousands in repair or replacement costs

No business-owner wants to hear that it’s time to replace a walk in refrigerator or freezer These investment appliances are essential to many businesses but aren’t the cheapest item to purchase. Old and inefficient walk-in coolers end up spending a lot of money over time due to costly repairs, lost stock, and high utility bills. Replacing your run down walk-in will help lower these costs and you can save in the long run.

Here are five signs that it may be time to start shopping for a new walk-in cooler:

1. HIGHER UTILITY BILLS

If you notice that your utility bills have steadily increased over time it could mean the ability of your insulation is diminishing and is allowing heat to seep in, or cold air to escape out. Your cooler slowly works to attempt to fix this insulation problem by using extra energy. If you notice a dramatic hike in your utility bill from the previous months you may be dealing with a broken thermostat or motor that is causing the cooler to use a lot more energy than necessary since it can’t properly regulate itself.

2. ICE OR FROST BUILD UP

If you find that you are regularly scraping ice out of your cooler or that you are losing items to frost bite there may be excess moisture allowing the ice to accumulate. Excess moisture is often caused by air leaks between panels or other cooler components.

3. REGULAR LEAKS

Damaged seals can lead to water leaks and puddles. Stagnant and standing water can cause mold and mildew build up as well as ice accumulation. Avoid health inspection problems as well as lost inventory due to mold and mildew by keeping track of any leaks.

4. FLUCTUATING TEMPERATURES

If your walk-in cooler is always working to regulate its temperature it may be time to replace your unit. As stated above, temperature fluctuate can be the symptom of many cooler problems such as, but not limited to, insulation failure or a broken thermostat.

5. FOOD SPOILING BEFORE ITS EXPIRATION

If you regularly experience many perishable items spoiling before their expiration this is a sure sign of an operating problem within your cooler. Throwing away inventory that should not have gone bad is certainly frustrating but it may point to a larger storage problem that needs to be evaluated.

If you experience any of the signs above, we advise that you have a commercial refrigeration technician check your walk-in refrigerator or freezer for any damage or internal failures. If your repairs are beginning to burn a hole through your pocket you may want to consider replacing your unit with a new walk in cooler/freezer.

Commercial refrigeration units are a business investment. Since these units cost thousands of dollars, keeping them in working order is a necessity to avoid costly and time-consuming replacements and new installations. In order to keep a commercial refrigerator running as it should, it’s important to implement regular maintenance. Many business owners can perform some of these tasks themselves, while others are more complicated and require the help of a professional.

In order to ensure a unit works as it should, it should be installed correctly and placed in such a way that any fans aren’t covered. Improper installation or placement can lead to failure, even with regular maintenance.

At least every three months, the unit should be visually inspected to see if there are any visible issues. Are there puddles of water inside or around the unit? Is there a buildup of ice, or is a fan not spinning properly? If so, any of these issues will need to be inspected by a professional. Read our previous post on how to choose the right refrigeration mechanic.

Other parts of the unit that should be inspected include the condenser coil and blades, as well as electrical wiring and components. All fans should be running and should not be obstructed. The refrigeration cycle should be checked to make sure that it is cycling as it should.

A commercial refrigeration professional will need to access, check, and clean the evaporator coil and the condenser coil and blades to ensure proper operation. During this cleaning and inspection process, potential issues may be identified before they become big problems.

Other aspects of the commercial refrigerator should also be checked to make sure everything is functioning properly. This includes the seals on the doors, which can lead to cooling loss and higher energy bills, and the suction accumulator if a unit is equipped with one.

Drain lines should also be inspected and cleared if a clog has been detected. If the line is leaking, a replacement or repair will be necessary. The oil in the unit should be checked and tested, if necessary, and the thermometer should be checked for accuracy. If the unit is low on refrigerant, this will need to be filled by a professional, and any leaks repaired.

The maintenance process can be a bit time-consuming and it may seem like an unnecessary expense several times a year. However, this is just a minor cost and inconvenience that adds to the longevity of a refrigeration unit. Units that are not properly maintained increases electrical consumption, may lead to failed components, and could significantly shorten the lifespan of the unit. By keeping a refrigeration unit well maintained, a business owner may potentially save thousands over the long-term in extensive repairs or full replacements.