Reclaimed Refrigerants for California Compliance

California has tightened its rules on refrigerants, the chemicals that circulate in air conditioners and heat pumps to move heat. Under a law called AB 663, which clarifies an earlier bill (SB 1206), "reclaimed" refrigerant now has to meet strict standards to be sold or used in the state: each cylinder must be at least 85% reclaimed material, certified to an industry purity standard (AHRI 700), at least 99.5% pure, and processed by an EPA-certified reclaimer. Refrigerant that doesn't meet these standards is now considered noncompliant no matter when it was bought, and using or selling it can bring serious civil and criminal penalties.

A refrigerant supplier called A-Gas says its "Penguin Certified" reclaimed refrigerants meet these new California requirements, with documentation and labeling meant to prove each cylinder is compliant.

For homeowners, this mostly affects what refrigerant contractors are legally allowed to use when servicing or recharging an air conditioner or heat pump in California. It doesn't change how your system works or cost you anything directly, but it does mean older, uncertified stockpiled refrigerant can no longer legally be used for repairs in the state. If you have a system serviced in California, the refrigerant used should now meet these purity and certification standards. If you live elsewhere, refrigerant rules vary by state, so it's worth checking what applies where you are.