What refrigerant would a 1996 home unit have?

A 1996 home air conditioning unit would likely use R-22 as its refrigerant. R-22, also known as HCFC-22, was commonly used in residential HVAC systems until it began to be phased out due to environmental concerns. The production and import of R-22 were significantly reduced starting in 2010, and it has been completely banned in new equipment since 2020. If the unit has not been retrofitted, it would still contain R-22, although it may be more challenging to find and more expensive due to its phased-out status.