How do you add Freon to your central air conditioner unit?

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It is illegal - on a Federal level - to attempt to do this yourself unless you happen to be an EPA certified technician. Hire a professional.

[From HVAC-Talk and Environmental Protection Agency]

Answer

That's right, and dangerous too! Call a reputable pro.

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It's not "illegal " to top off your ac, but you should be certified if only to purchase the freon. Before you attempt it, it's good to read up on it or take a class. It can be dangerous and you could damage your unit if specific procedure are not followed.

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This is not a simple question. Regardless of the fact that you should be a certified technician to purchase R-12 and the other legalities and environmental concerns involved, if your system was properly installed, it should not need additional refrigerant. If the refrigerant level is low, then refrigerant has escaped from the system through a leak that should be repaired before additional refrigerant is added. Leak checking and repair requires specialized equipment and skills as does measuring refrigerant charges, recovering refrigerant, determining the correct charge, and adding the refrigerant. There is the possibility of injury or death from contact with escaping refrigerant or high voltages inside the unit. There is also the large liklihood of damage to your system from over charging the unit.

Many people automatically assume that because their system is not cooling to their expectations, it must need more "freon". Believe it or not, the refrigerant charge is usually not the cause of the problem. There are many, many things that can affect the ability of an A/C system to cool properly. These may include the capacity of the system, the cleanliness of the components, the integrity of the duct work, the personal habits of the users of the system, the weather (heat and humidity), the condition of filters, and the proper functioning of the various components of the system. There are many things a layman can do to improve the performance of an A/C system that do not involve adding refrigerant. These are very important first steps that can be completed prior to calling a qualified service technician. This maintenance will often solve cooling problems and will always reduce the cost of a visit from a service tech. There are many resources on the web that will outline how to perform basic maintenance on your A/C unit. If, after performing basic maintenance and cleaning, you still feel that your refrigerant charge is low, then it is time to place a call to the service tech.

Choosing a technician is an important step. Many people so not trust service personnel. While there are certainly dishonest people out there, most technicians are competent and honest. The problem is that many service technicians do not do a good job of communicating with the customer before, during, and after servicing the unit. This lack of communication fosters mistrust with the customer. Techs often do not like to answer questions which is poor business practice. Communication will keep customers loyal and increase business. Techs -- learn to appreciate your customer's questions and take the time to answer their concerns in detail -- you will be amazed at the good response you will recieve!!!

The best advice for cooling problems is:

Educate yourself (learn how maintain your unit) Perform regular preventive maintenance (within your capabilities) Locate a competent service person whom you trust and listen to them.

Finally, for the hardcore amongst us, Get certified and spend your money on proper equipment. In doing so, you will be required to learn and demonstrate the knowledge required to perform service, purchase refrigerant, and make decisions on how to repair your system. In addition, you will know why "adding freon" is not always the answer.

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please expand on "There are many resources on the web that will outline how to perform basic maintenance on your A/C unit"

Thank you

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Since Nov. 14, 1994 the EPA has required technicians who work on any appliance that uses refrigerant to be certified under rule 608 and 609. In addition only certified technicians can purchase refrigerants. Retail and wholesale outlets that sell refrigerants to the general public can be fined and criminal charges can be filed against them. There are three levels of certification depending on the type of work the technician performs and there is a seperate certification for automotive repair. For those that want more information try www.epatest.com for free downloads and online certification.

The process of adding or deleting refrigerants from a system are controlled by law and the procedures for which are specified by law. Even if these laws were not in place, the process can be dangerous. No two refrigerants are the same and no two refrigerants are designed to be mixed. Improperly mixed refrigerants can be explosive and can become poisenous gases. Since Nov. 15, 1995 it has been illegal to vent any refrigerant including sustitutes for CFC's, HCFC's and HFC's. All refrigerants must be recovered and either reclaimed or destroyed by a licensed reclamation center.

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In Ontario, you must have a valid ODP card to purchase refrigerant. The only reason that you would EVER have to add refrigerant is if there is a leak. The leak MUST be repaired first - call a pro!

First answer by anonymous. Last edit by CARLIMITED. Contributor trust: 113 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 173 [recommend question]