Home AC recharge kit R22 Home Depot

When the summer season rolls around and the thermostat rises, the air conditioner becomes the most important system in the house. These hardworking systems keep us cool and comfortable despite the heat, but what do you do if they start to malfunction? 

Here is everything you need to know about how to recharge an A/C unit, as well as signs that it may be time for a replacement. 

What does “recharging your air conditioner” mean?

When you hear someone talking about recharging an A/C unit, they are talking about adding more refrigerant to the unit and ensuring the refrigerant is properly pressurized within the refrigerant system.

If you need refrigerant for your air conditioner, you’ll need to contact a professional heating and cooling technician. Under EPA regulations, only a certified professional can recharge your home’s HVAC system. You should never try to recharge the A/C yourself, even if you have a home air conditioner recharging kit. The refrigerant used can be harmful to you and the environment if it’s not handled properly.

How do I know if my home A/C needs to be recharged? 

There are a couple of ways you’ll know if you need an A/C recharge:

1. Most of the time, when an A/C unit is leaking refrigerant, it will blow warm air. That’s because the refrigerant is no longer there to cool the air passing through your unit. However, your A/C won’t go from cool to warm overnight like it might in the case of a broken thermostat, for example. It will slowly get warmer over time as your unit’s refrigerant leaks, so you’ll notice your air conditioner’s effectiveness diminishing over weeks or months.

2. Another sign that your refrigerant is leaking is ice or frost buildup inside or on the unit. This happens because the refrigerant gas cools everything it touches to the point of freezing—that’s how it cools outside air to pump into your home. When you look inside your unit, it’s normal to see some frosty-looking coiled pipes. Those are your condenser coils, a primary component of the refrigerant system. If everything inside your unit looks frozen, or you’re seeing frost on the outside of the unit, it could be the result of a leak.

How often do you need to recharge your A/C?

The refrigerant systems within A/C units are sealed. This means that home A/C units are designed not to require a recharge unless a leak develops in the refrigerant system. So, unless you notice a problem, a home A/C recharge isn’t needed. 

What does a typical A/C recharge cost?

The cost to recharge a home A/C depends on the cause of the refrigerant leak and refrigerant prices, which are dependent on the unit and your location. The average retail price of refrigerant is $67 per pound, and most units require up to 10 pounds, so your A/C recharge costs could be up to $670.

If extra work is required to repair the cause of the leak, that may be an added expense.

When should I replace my A/C unit? 

You may be better off replacing your leaking air conditioner instead of trying to recharge it—because even the best A/C units don’t last forever. Here are some signs that you may need a new A/C unit: 

• The unit is 15 to 20 years old. 

• The unit is a newer model, but the leak is the result of poor manufacturing.

• The repair cost is almost as much as buying a new unit.

• You’ve had to get the unit repaired frequently.

Learn more about HVAC replacement costs to determine whether or not a replacement will be more cost-effective.

How do I extend the life of my A/C? 

Like any appliance or home system, routine maintenance is the key to extending your air conditioner’s life span. Here are some tips:

However, even with regular maintenance, sometimes parts of your A/C unit will malfunction. When you invest in a home warranty from American Home Shield®, you can rest assured that your budget will be protected in the event of a malfunction of a covered item from everyday wear and tear. Our air conditioner warranty coverage is here to help you if you need an A/C recharge. The ShieldSilver™ and ShieldGold™ plans cover up to $10 per pound of refrigerant, no matter how much you need. ShieldPlatinum™ plan members can enjoy unlimited refrigerant coverage at no additional cost. Check out our pricing and plans for more details and choose the best plan for your household and budget.

Do you have an R22 air conditioner (one that uses the old R22 refrigerant that’s being phased out)? Faced with the rising costs of R22 air conditioner repairs, the decline of available refrigerant supply, and the increase in price of refrigerant, deciding what to do with your system can be a complicated choice. We’re here to help you make the best, most educated choice for your home.

You have choices:

• Recharge
• Retrofit
• Replace

1. RECHARGE WITH R-22

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for implementing the R-22 refrigerant phase out for the United States. By January 1, 2010, there was a ban on the production and import of R-22. As a result, manufacturers of heat pump and air conditioning equipment redesigned their systems to accommodate R-41 0A, a chlorine-free refrigerant compared to R-22. The refrigerant would soon replace R-22 in the new HVAC equipment.

EPA regulations require a ban on the production and import of R-22 refrigerant by January 1, 2020. After 2020, any air conditioning or heat pump system using R-22 that requires servicing will have to depend on potentially expensive R-22 stockpiles or reclaimed refrigerant. The new ban on R-22 won’t affect homeowners that want to continue to utilize their functioning R-22 air conditioning systems. However, in the event that that equipment needs to be charged with refrigerant, there will be difficulties.

2. RETROFIT

• Unique non-ozone depleting, long-term replacement for R22 refrigerant
• Environmentally GREEN refrigerant
• Replace R22 without unit modification
• Does not contain hydrocarbons, such as Butane, lsopentane or lsobutane
• Replaces R22 with no change of oil
• Usable in compressors designed for R22
• Usable with Mineral, AB or POE oils
Only 2-component blend to replace R22
• Non-flammable; Rated A 1 by ASH RAE
• Comparable to R22 performance temperature range
• Usable in a wide variety of applications

3. REPLACE

So, how do you go about making that decision to repair or replace your older R22 air conditioner? How can you tell when a piece of equipment has outlived its useful life? Can you get your older unit to last another couple of years by fixing it? Or will you have to keep throwing money into it, especially as the price of R22 continues to skyrocket?
Newer units are more energy efficient and can lower your electric bill, but can you manage the upfront cost? The unfortunate truth is, there is no cut and dried answer. But you can make the best decision to repair, retrofit or replace your R22 air conditioner when you know what factors to consider about your equipment and its history, and whom to trust for advice.

THE RISK FACTOR

Hanging on to an R22 air conditioner until the bitter end January 1, 2020 is when R22 will no longer be available at any price) does pose some risks, especially for a business that relies on air conditioning. When you finally need to replace, how long will you have to wait for a new AC unit because you’re in line with everyone else who is force to replace their R22 air conditioner?

SYSTEM AGE

Most residential and light commercial air conditioning units are designed to last about 15 to 20 years under optimal conditions.

WHAT’S BROKEN?

Some problems, even though they may seem serious, can actually be easy and relatively inexpensive to fix. Electrical issues often fall into this category. And if your system is making so much noise that you’re afraid it’s about to die, the news may not be as bad as you think. You may just need some maintenance or redesign work.

However, if the compressor has failed, especially on an older R22 air conditioner, it’s often time to replace. The compressor is the heart of the system, and the investment to fix it may not be worth the cost. That’s also true because many times compressor failure is caused by a secondary issue that won’t be discovered until after you replace it.

Can you recharge your home AC yourself?

How much does it cost to recharge R22?

Can you still get R22 AC units?

Is R22 coming back?