Charlie: Ed in Richmond says, “I have a four-ton AC unit and the nameplate on the side of it says it has 7.2 pounds of Freon from the factory. Is that the maximum amount the system will hold? Will it hold more?”
Podcast: Play in new window
Tom: Well, the system itself is only … When I say the system, the condensing unit comes pre-charted. You end up buying the refrigerant when you buy the condensing unit, so that’s probably what’s in it. Now, depending on how long your lines are going to the evaporator coil, you could have to add more until you get to the perfect sweet spot with your balancing of your refrigeration, but that’s probably what the unit itself holds.
Charlie: They’re going to do that with their gauges. They’ll know …
Tom: Yeah. The gauges. They have to put it all together, and then they’ll balance the refrigeration, the refrigerant out. They always come pre-charged. People don’t realize they’re full of Freon when you buy them.
Charlie: Here’s the thing about Ed’s question is, he doesn’t really say why he wants to know this. Is it high, is it low? I think he’s wondering if the guy’s adding Freon maybe. I’m guessing here. He wants to know is that-
Tom: Usually. If your system quits working, you are not down more than three pounds unless you have a hole the size of a giant quarter or something, that just all is gone.
Charlie: A giant quarter.
Tom: A giant quarter.
Charlie: Quarters come in more than one size?
Tom: They do in other countries.
Charlie: Okay.
Tom: Okay, thank you.
Charlie: They are quarters.
Tom: You should see the Cuban quarters. It’s huge.
Charlie: Yep. Huge….at the wall.
Tom: Then, that means you got a big repair bill and refrigeration, I mean the refrigerant’s the least of your worries.