Frequently Asked Questions — Refrigerant Gas UK
Everything you need to know about buying refrigerant gas in the UK, F-Gas regulations, products, delivery and more. Can’t find your answer? Contact our team — we’re happy to help.
Buying Refrigerant Gas in the UK
Do I need F-Gas certification to buy refrigerant gas in the UK?
Yes. To purchase HFC refrigerants in the UK — including R32, R410A, R407C, R404A and R134a — you must hold a valid F-Gas qualification under UK F-Gas Regulation. Refrigerant Gas Supplies Ltd verifies certification before all commercial orders are dispatched.
Can I buy refrigerant gas online in the UK with next-day delivery?
Yes. Refrigerant Gas Supplies Ltd sells R32, R410A, R407C, R404A, R134a and R1234yf online with next-day mainland UK delivery. Orders placed before 2pm on business days are dispatched same day.
How much does refrigerant gas cost in the UK in 2025?
Typical 2025 UK trade prices: R32 (9kg) £60–90; R410A (11.3kg) £55–85; R404A (10kg) £80–130; R134a (12kg) £50–75; R1234yf £25–45/kg. Prices vary by F-Gas quota availability. Contact us for current bulk pricing.
Do you offer trade account and bulk pricing?
Yes. We offer competitive trade accounts and volume pricing for HVAC contractors, refrigeration engineers, facilities management companies and automotive workshops. Contact us to set up a trade account.
What areas do you deliver to?
We deliver to all mainland UK areas — England, Scotland and Wales. Next-day delivery is standard. Contact us for Northern Ireland, offshore islands or remote Highlands deliveries which may require additional arrangements.
How are refrigerant cylinders packaged for delivery?
All cylinders are dispatched in compliance with ADR dangerous goods transport regulations — secured upright, with valve protection caps, safety seals, tamper-evident labels, and UN-numbered hazard packaging. Every delivery includes the required safety documentation.
Can I return unused refrigerant cylinders?
Unused, sealed cylinders in original condition may be returned within 14 days. Partially used cylinders cannot be accepted for safety and regulatory reasons. Contact us before returning any item.
F-Gas Regulations UK
What is F-Gas regulation?
UK F-Gas Regulation (retained from EU Regulation 517/2014) controls the supply and use of fluorinated greenhouse gases (HFCs) used in refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump systems. It requires engineers to hold F-Gas certification and enforces a phase-down of high-GWP refrigerants.
Is R22 refrigerant still legal in the UK?
No. R22 has been completely banned in the UK since 1 January 2015 — for both new equipment and servicing. Purchasing, using or supplying R22 is illegal. Equipment still using R22 must be retrofitted to R407C or R422D, or replaced entirely. Refrigerant Gas Supplies Ltd does not supply R22.
Is R410A being phased out in the UK?
Yes. R410A (GWP 2,088) is being phased down. It is no longer permitted in most new AC systems from 2025, with manufacturers moving to R32 (GWP 675). However, R410A remains fully legal and available for servicing and maintaining the large existing installed base across the UK.
What refrigerants are being phased down?
R404A (GWP 3,922) and R507 have been banned in new commercial refrigeration since 2020. R410A is restricted in new AC from 2025. HFCs with GWP above 2,500 face purchase restrictions. Phase-down does not affect purchasing these gases for servicing existing systems.
What is the best low-GWP alternative to R404A?
R449A (Opteon XP40) is the most widely recommended drop-in alternative — GWP of 1,397 (64% lower than R404A), compatible with existing systems with minimal modification. R452A (GWP 2,140) is another option. Both are available from Refrigerant Gas Supplies Ltd.
Do I need to keep records of refrigerant use?
Yes. Operators of systems containing 3kg or more of HFC refrigerant must maintain service logs recording refrigerant added and recovered at each service. Records must be kept for at least 5 years and be available for inspection by enforcement authorities.
What are the penalties for using refrigerant without F-Gas certification?
Using regulated refrigerants without valid F-Gas certification is illegal under UK F-Gas Regulation. Penalties include significant fines for both the uncertified user and any supplier who knowingly sells to an uncertified buyer. Enforcement is carried out by the Environment Agency.
Refrigerant Gas Products
What is R32 refrigerant used for?
R32 (Difluoromethane, GWP 675) is now the standard refrigerant for new residential and commercial split air conditioning systems in the UK. Used by Daikin, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, LG and most major manufacturers. Mildly flammable (A2L) — requires compatible equipment.
What is R410A used for?
R410A (GWP 2,088, non-flammable A1) is the dominant refrigerant in the UK’s existing AC installed base. Used in split systems, multi-splits, heat pumps and VRF/VRV systems. Essential for maintaining and servicing existing installations across the UK.
What is R407C and what replaced R22?
R407C is an HFC blend (GWP 1,774) used as a direct retrofit for R22 in AC, heat pumps and chillers. Must be charged as liquid. It is the most common R22 replacement in commercial HVAC systems across the UK.
What is R404A used for?
R404A (GWP 3,922) is used in commercial refrigeration — supermarket cabinets, cold rooms, food service and industrial freezing. Banned in new equipment since 2020 but still required for maintaining existing R404A systems. Consider R449A for new top-ups.
What is R134a refrigerant used for?
R134a (GWP 1,430) is used in pre-2017 vehicle air conditioning, domestic refrigerators, vending machines and light commercial refrigeration. Being replaced by R1234yf in new vehicles but essential for servicing the millions of older cars on UK roads.
What cars use R1234yf refrigerant?
All new passenger vehicles sold in the UK and EU from January 2017 onwards must use R1234yf (GWP 4). Pre-2017 cars use R134a. Check the AC compressor label under your bonnet to confirm. R1234yf requires specialist AC equipment — it is NOT compatible with R134a tools.
Can I mix different refrigerants?
Never. Mixing refrigerants (e.g. adding R32 to an R410A system) contaminates the charge and can cause severe compressor damage, system failure and safety hazards. Always use only the refrigerant specified on the system nameplate. If in doubt, recover the entire charge and recharge with fresh refrigerant.
What is the difference between R32 and R410A?
R32 has a lower GWP (675 vs 2,088), better energy efficiency and is now the standard for new UK AC systems. R410A is non-flammable (A1); R32 is mildly flammable (A2L). They operate at similar pressures but are NOT interchangeable and require different system designs.
How do I dispose of used refrigerant gas safely?
Used refrigerant must NEVER be vented to atmosphere — this is illegal under UK F-Gas Regulation and carries significant fines. It must be recovered using certified equipment by an F-Gas qualified engineer and returned to an approved refrigerant reclaim facility. Never puncture or dispose of cylinders in general waste.
What is R449A and why is it replacing R404A?
R449A (Opteon XP40, GWP 1,397) is a low-GWP HFO/HFC blend developed as a drop-in alternative to R404A and R507 in commercial refrigeration. It reduces GWP by 64% compared to R404A while maintaining comparable performance in supermarket cabinets, cold rooms and freezing applications.
Refrigeration Spare Parts
What HVAC spare parts do you supply?
We supply a full range of refrigeration and HVAC spare parts including: vacuum pumps, refrigerant recovery machines, charging scales, digital manifold gauge sets, electronic leak detectors, temperature controllers, AC compressors, copper tube tools, refrigerant recovery units and refrigerant filling and reclaiming equipment. All products are compatible with common UK refrigerants.
What vacuum pump do I need for refrigerant work?
We recommend a two-stage vacuum pump for all refrigerant system evacuations. Two-stage pumps achieve a deeper vacuum (below 20 microns) which is essential for removing moisture and non-condensables from the system before recharging. We stock 1.5 CFM, 3 CFM and 6 CFM models suitable for residential to commercial applications.
Do I need a specialist leak detector for R1234yf?
Yes. R1234yf is an HFO refrigerant and while our RLD100 detects most HFCs and HFOs, for dedicated automotive R1234yf work we recommend using a detector confirmed as R1234yf compatible. Always check with your equipment supplier for the latest specifications.
What is a refrigerant recovery machine and do I need one?
A refrigerant recovery machine allows you to recover refrigerant from a system before service or decommissioning — legally required under UK F-Gas Regulation. We stock the RR500 (high capacity, 500g/min) and RR250 (portable, 250g/min) for different application sizes.
Orders, Delivery & Returns
How do I place an order?
Order directly through our website by browsing our product categories and adding items to your basket. For trade orders, products not listed online, or bulk pricing, contact us by email or via our contact form. F-Gas certification is verified before regulated refrigerants are dispatched.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) and bank transfer for trade accounts. All payments are processed securely. We do not store card details on our servers.
Do you provide VAT invoices?
Yes. Every order receives a full VAT invoice by email. Trade account customers can receive invoices with agreed payment terms. Contact us to set up a trade account for your business.
How do I track my delivery?
You will receive a tracking email once your order is dispatched. If you have not received tracking details within one business day, please contact our customer service team.
About Refrigerant Gas Supplies Ltd
Who is Refrigerant Gas Supplies Ltd?
Refrigerant Gas Supplies Ltd is a UK-based supplier of F-Gas compliant refrigerant gases and HVAC spare parts. We serve certified HVAC engineers, refrigeration technicians, automotive workshops and facilities management companies across mainland UK. Our product range includes R32, R410A, R407C, R404A, R134a, R1234yf and refrigeration spare parts with next-day UK delivery.
Are you F-Gas compliant?
Yes. Refrigerant Gas Supplies Ltd operates in full compliance with UK F-Gas Regulation. We verify F-Gas certification for all regulated refrigerant purchases and maintain all required records as specified under UK F-Gas Regulation. We do not supply regulated refrigerants to uncertified buyers.
How do I contact Refrigerant Gas Supplies Ltd?
Contact us via our contact form, by email at info@refrigerantgassuppliesltd.com, or via WhatsApp using the button on our website. Our team responds to all enquiries within one business day.