How much to top off R22a Freon

[paulharvey]

I have a 3.5 ton package heat pump (no indoor/outdoor split) that I believe is low on freon. It still cools but not well, and when it gets to mid 90s outside, it gets to mid 80s inside. It used to keep up better. I felt large copper line (suction/return?) And it was cool but not cold. It wasn't sweeting. Are these systems charged to a standard preasure, that I could check to be sure I'm low?

Let's assume I'm low, and I can't find a way to get freon my self; how much would you expect to pay to have it topped off? I don't know how much it holds, or a price per pound or cubic foot; or how ever they sell it.

 

[doxford jim]

It might just be better to phone around and get some estimates first. Down there in Florida there are lots of AC/Refrig outfits. No point in putting gas into a system if you have leaks that will only get worse.
My advice is to get a recommended/reliable company to check out your system, fix leaks and then refill to required level. That way you should only need to do the job once.

 

[paulharvey]

It might just be better to phone around and get some estimates first. Down there in Florida there are lots of AC/Refrig outfits. No point in putting gas into a system if you have leaks that will only get worse.
My advice is to get a recommended/reliable company to check out your system, fix leaks and then refill to required level. That way you should only need to do the job once.

Yeah, I just wanted to know if I should apply lube before calling. I have an uncle in law that might be able to help me, but it could be a month or more; and pregnant wife + bad AC=thrown pots, pans, and who knows what else.

 

[chad22]

If it's low then topping it off would be a waste of money as you'd most likely lose the refrigerant. There's bound to be a leak somewhere in the system that needs fixed. Not sure on the price though. I'd call around and get some estimates.

Chad

 

[paulharvey]

Yeah I agree that if it's low, it had to go somewhere. I'm going to call around tomorrow and ask for a ball park figure for service call, and top off. I see there are "civilian" available alternatives including R22a. The unit uses R22, which is controlled and expensive. If I could get away with dropping $20/year in R22a I'm OK with that.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Yeah I agree that if it's low, it had to go somewhere. I'm going to call around tomorrow and ask for a ball park figure for service call, and top off. I see there are "civilian" available alternatives including R22a. The unit uses R22, which is controlled and expensive. If I could get away with dropping $20/year in R22a I'm OK with that.

I have a friend (as a side auto shop business) that has to top off his once/twice a summer. He had it checked out by the AC professionals and they never have found where it gets out. He picked up some at NAPA and just tops it off in the mean time. It is a non issue all winter he states.

 

[dusty3030]

Don't assume it needs refrigerant first.
Check everything you can check first.
You need to make sure you have good airflow - a clean new filter.
You need to make sure heat can transfer - are all the coils clean (condenser and evaporator)
Are both fans operating - condenser fan to remove heat from the condenser, blower fan to move air inside the house.

All these you can check yourself.

I haven't done this in many years, but I kid you not a lot of calls were fixed by just changing the filter.
Some of my most memorable calls were -
1. Found they had replaced the air filter and the new filter was still wrapped in plastic. Their reason was the old one was nasty and they wanted to keep the new one from getting dirty - I kid you not.
2. Several times the condensing unit out side covered up with something, usually a tarp. People have intentions of protecting it in the fall / winter but forget to uncover it when they crank up the air.

Good luck!

 

[murphy1244]

As said check the condenser coil first. If your low on Freon you have a leak. On a Heat pump we usually weigh in a charge.

 

[doxford jim]

OK - what they said above is true.
Do you have a sight glass on your equipment - where you can see the liquid gas passing through ?
If you have and cannot see any liquid, then you will be low on refrigerant. If you see a few gas bubbles and quite a bit of liquid then you are about right for gas. If you don't see any bubbles at all and it is all fluid then likely you will have too much refrigerant.
If you don't have a sight glass then you will need to check other symptoms - try googling a/c and refrigeration troubleshooting. There are a lot of symptoms to consider and why they are happening. Yes you can get bum companies and dumb techies too - all the more need to get a reputable company in if you have to.
There are the normal things to check out like air filter cleanliness , condenser fin condition and cleanliness etc. If you have pressure gauges check suction and discharge pressures. Outside cover of air handling unit - must be removed.
All these things affect the performance, so you have to start somewhere.

 

[nc redneck]

Your unit will have at a tag on it that tells how much freon it holds. I just had 2 of them done. One new install that I did at rental. Paid $ 55.00 per pound. Freon prices are all over the map, pay less and they just go up on labor or price per pound or amount needed.
One at house is for shop area 99 model never spent a dime on it no sign of leaks. It is a gamble slow leak you may be good for several years, fast leak you may be throwing aweigh $ 500 bucks. Next step is usually replacment and thats not cheap either. 2 weeks so far and it is still cooling well.
Time will tell.