What is Freon gas?
Where the word came from
Freon was introduced as a trademark for the CFC and later HCFC and HFC refrigerants sold under it. Because those products dominated the market for decades, the brand name became the generic term, and it stuck long after the original CFCs were banned.
So when a technician says a system needs freon, they mean it needs refrigerant. Which refrigerant depends entirely on the machine, and putting the wrong one in is a compressor failure waiting to happen.
What your equipment actually contains
Split air conditioners sold in India recently: mostly R-32.
Air conditioners from roughly 2006 to 2024: mostly R-410A.
Older units, and a large installed commercial base: R-22, which we supply for servicing existing equipment.
Cars: R-134a, with R-1234yf on newer higher-end platforms.
Refrigerators and freezers: small sealed systems commonly use R-600a isobutane; commercial freezers use R-404A.
The nameplate on the outdoor unit states the refrigerant and the factory charge. That is the only reliable answer for your specific machine.
Does the gas run out?
No. A refrigeration circuit is sealed, and the refrigerant is not consumed the way fuel is. It circulates indefinitely. If a system is low, it has leaked, and the leak is the fault.
This matters commercially. A technician who tops up a system every season without ever finding the leak is selling you the same gas repeatedly. A system that needs annual topping up has a repair waiting, not a consumable.
Is freon banned?
Partly, depending on which one is meant. The original CFC Freons, R-11 and R-12, are banned worldwide under the Montreal Protocol. R-22, an HCFC, is being phased out: manufacturing new equipment with it ended in India on 1 January 2025, while servicing existing equipment remains lawful to 2040. The HFCs such as R-32, R-410A and R-134a are not banned at all; they are phasing down by quota under Kigali from 2028.
So "is freon banned" has three different answers depending on which gas the question is about. See the gas families guide.
Where to buy it
Refrigerant is sold to the trade rather than over a retail counter, because charging a system needs recovery and vacuum equipment and, for R-22, documentation. If you are a technician or a contractor, we supply eleven lines from Hyderabad. If you are a homeowner, the practical route is a technician, and it is worth asking them to find the leak rather than just adding gas.
Quick answers
Is Freon a type of gas?
No. Freon is a registered trademark covering a range of refrigerants, originally DuPont's and now Chemours'. In everyday use it has become a generic word for refrigerant.
What freon does my AC use?
Recent Indian splits mostly use R-32. Units from around 2006 to 2024 mostly use R-410A. Older units use R-22. The nameplate on the outdoor unit states it.
Does AC gas get used up?
No. The circuit is sealed and the refrigerant is not consumed. A system that is low has leaked, and the leak is the fault that needs fixing.
Is freon banned in India?
It depends which one. CFCs are banned. R-22 is phasing out, with servicing lawful to 2040. HFCs such as R-32 and R-410A are not banned and are phasing down by quota.
- UNEP Ozone Secretariat · Montreal Protocol control schedules for CFCs and HCFCs · ozone.unep.org.
- Ozone Cell, MoEFCC · HCFC phase-out management plan · ozonecell.nic.in.
- ASHRAE Standard 34 · refrigerant designation system · ashrae.org.
This guide is general information compiled from the cited sources — not legal, safety or engineering advice. Read our full disclaimer.
Related: Refrigerant basics · CFC, HCFC, HFC and HFO · Types and uses · Which refrigerant new ACs use