Residential Air Conditioner Freon Refill Cost
Freon costs an average of $150 for a Freon refill. Most people pay between $100 and $350 for a refill, depending on the size and type of your HVAC unit. Older large r22 units can reach $600 or more. A 25lb jug of r410a runs $75 to $175. Labor adds an average $70 per hour.
“Freon” is simply a brand name owned by DuPont chemicals. But it’s used as a generic term for any air conditioning coolant. Older systems used the r22 type of refrigerant, known for depleting the Earth’s ozone layer. As of 2020, it’s no longer legal to import or produce r22 in the United States. All systems installed after 2010 use the alternative r410a refrigerant.
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Home AC Recharge Cost
Recharging your home air conditioner runs $150 on average. However, since coolant only escapes with leaks or damage, this service is wrapped into other repairs, like a coil or line replacement.
- Repairing an air conditioner costs: $150-$550
- New air conditioner installations cost: $3,500-$7,500
- Replacing a condenser coil: $1,600-$2,500
- Evaporator coil installation costs: $900-$2,800
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Home Air Conditioner Freon Recharge or Replacement Cost
Replacing or recharging the Freon in your homes air conditioning unit costs anywhere from $100 to $250. But you’ll also pay a recovery fee of $50 to $150 for r22 Freon since it’s federally mandated to capture it and dispose of it properly, so it doesn’t damage the environment.
Labor Cost to Add Freon to Home AC
Labor costs $50 to $150 per hour for an HVAC professional. What you’ll pay depends heavily on where you live. If you live somewhere with a high price of living, expect to pay more. In those areas, your pro has higher overhead costs they’ll have to include in their charges.
HVAC or Central Air Average Coolant Recharge Cost
On average, you’ll pay $150 to add refrigerant to your air conditioner. This doesn’t include recovery fees. If you’re losing coolant, you’ll want your HVAC pro to check for leaks. Some leaks require replacement of parts or the entire system.
How Much Time Does It Take to Recharge a Home AC?
It takes 5-10 minutes to fill one pound of Freon. You’ll need 2-4 pounds per ton of AC cooling. Most homes have anywhere from a ½ ton to 5 tons. So, a home with 3 tons needs 6 to 12 pounds taking about ½ to 2 hours.
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How Much Does Freon Cost Per Pound for Central Air?
You’ll pay $75-$175 for a 25-pound canister of Freon. Most systems only need 6 to 15 pounds. Pricing also depends on the type your system uses:
- The old-style refrigerant, r22, known for depletion of the ozone layer, is banned.
- 2010: all new system installs use the new type, r410a.
- 2020: r22 isn’t imported or manufactured.
To complicate things, older r22 systems can’t use r410a due to pressure differences. So, if you have an old r22 system, your next recharge will cost significantly more since you’re looking to either upgrade or replace your HVAC system.
What Does AC Refrigerant or r410a Freon Cost Per Pound?
The current HVAC standard coolant, r410a, costs about $3 to $8 per pound. All systems manufactured or installed after 2010 use r410a. The costs fluctuate depending on demand.
R22 Freon Cost Per Pound
As of 2020, you can no longer purchase r22 coolant. Until then, it’ll range from $20 to $50 per pound. As of the writing of this article, it’s almost impossible to get r22 Freon.
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DIY or Hire an HVAC Pro?
Always hire a pro to recharge your home AC system. You’ll need to for a variety of reasons, including:
- As of January 1, 2018, the EPA section 608 of the Clean Air Act requires anyone purchasing or handling home air conditioning refrigerant to have a license.
- Recharging with the wrong type or incorrectly filling the coolant will ruin your system.
- If you need a recharge, you probably have a leak. A pro can find and repair or replace the leaking part.
To get the job done right and without costly complications, hire an HVAC professional near you today.
FAQs
How often do you need to add Freon to a central air conditioning unit?
Modern central AC units should never need a recharge unless it has a leak.
How much does a residential Freon gas refill cost?
Residential Freon gas refills cost anywhere from $100 to $250 or more.
Do all air conditioners need to be recharged?
You shouldn’t need to recharge any air conditioners unless they’ve developed a leak.
What are the different types of refrigerant I can use for my home AC?
The only AC refrigerant you can use for residential purposes is r410a.
How much does AC Freeon removal cost?
Home AC Freon removal can cost anywhere from $100 to $300 depending on the professional. The equipment, time and disposal regulations make the process expensive.
How much does it cost to put Freeon in a central air unit?
It costs $3 to $7 per pound for r410a Freeon, and r22 costs $30 to $40 per pound.
