According to PG&E, most central air conditioning systems use two to four pounds of refrigerant per ton of cooling capacity. A three-ton air conditioner would typically have six to 12 pounds of refrigerant for a proper charge.
Most houses have air conditioning units that range between a half-ton to 5 tons. This means a home with a 3-ton air conditioner will need 6-12 lbs. of Freon. It will take no longer than 2 hours to recharge a 3-ton unit.
Size of the HVAC Unit
Since an air conditioner uses an average of 2 to 4 pounds of refrigerant per ton, a 3-ton AC will need an average of 9 pounds. With the cost of R-22 refrigerant increasing each year, it can cost a pretty penny to recharge larger systems that still use the refrigerant.
The general guideline used when calculating the amount of Freon in a residential A/C unit is 2-4 pounds per ton of cooling.
Average Amount of R-410A Needed for Recharging
So, a 3-ton air conditioner would require 6 to 12 pounds of refrigerant. Currently, the price for recharging an air conditioning system with R-410A is around $90 per pound.
R-410A refrigerant prices range from $40 to $75 per pound. To replace R-410A refrigerant in your leaky AC, you will need to hire an HVAC professional since the EPA prohibits handling AC refrigerant without a license.
The amount of Freon your AC system requires depends on several factors, including the size of your home, the type of system, and its specific design. On average, most residential air conditioning systems need between 2 to 4 pounds of refrigerant per ton of cooling capacity.
Under EPA regulations, only a certified professional can recharge your home's HVAC system.
You cannot just switch refrigerants because R410-A and R-22 have different chemical properties. R410-A operates at a higher pressure. If you put R410-A into an R-22 system, the parts will rupture due to the increased force.
R-22 Freon is not even available for purchase unless you're an EPA-licensed technician. So, you can't buy Freon from Home Depot for your HVAC needs. The good news is that you can still get it, though.
As a general rule of thumb, a 3-ton AC unit is typically capable of cooling approximately 1,200 to 1,500 square feet. However, it is always recommended to consult with a professional HVAC technician to determine the appropriate size of the AC unit for your specific needs.
Freon costs $50 to $150 per pound to refill a home AC and $4 to $21 per pound when buying wholesale. A 25lb tank of R410A costs $75 to $200. *Most central air conditioners need 2 to 4 pounds to recharge the refrigerant.
According to PG&E, most central air conditioning systems use two to four pounds of refrigerant per ton of cooling capacity. A three-ton air conditioner would typically have six to 12 pounds of refrigerant for a proper charge.
Freon (which is really just a particular brand of refrigerant) lasts forever.
Low refrigerant can also lead to frozen evaporator coils. Without refrigerant passing through the coils, there will be no way for that absorbed heat to be transferred out of the air handler. The lack of pressure within the coil continues to drop, the moisture freezes onto the coils, and ice forms as a result.
The average cost of installing a new central air conditioner in 2024, including equipment and labor costs, is $5,750 for a 3-ton unit in a 2,000-square-foot home. On average, a new AC unit cost will fall between $3,300 and $7,800.
Trane: Reliability. According to US News, Rheem and Trane are tied at number five for the best HVAC brands of 2023 for performance and overall reliability. Regardless of your chosen HVAC brand, your HVAC system should last a minimum of 10-15 years.
R410a is actually a blend of two different refrigerants, one of which is called R125. There's currently a world shortage of R125 because there aren't enough plants to produce it. Without enough R125, producers can't make enough R410a to keep up with the increasing demand.
On average it's about 3 pounds per ton (12,000 BTU) of air conditioning. For a brand new system, it's very easy for us. Our equipment is matched so we know how much the air conditioner and evaporator coil hold. The only variable is the refrigerant piping.
Freon MO99 is the gold standard for R-22 alternatives and was developed by the same scientists who engineered Freon R-22. The benefits of Freon MO99 include: Capacity — The ability of Freon MO99 to heat or cool a given space is closer to Freon R-22 than any other refrigerant on the market.