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HVAC

HVAC Refrigerant Charge Calculator

Estimate the refrigerant a split system holds once the line set length is accounted for.

Your numbers

tons
lb
From the nameplate. It covers the unit plus a standard line set.
ft
ft

Result

Estimated total charge 8.0 Pounds
Added for the extra line 1.5 Pounds
Line beyond the factory allowance 20 Feet
Extra charge in ounces 24
About 8.0 lb in total: the 6.5 lb factory charge plus 1.5 lb for the 20 feet of extra line.

An estimate for ordering and planning only. The final charge is set by measurement, using superheat on a fixed-orifice system or subcooling on a TXV system, against the manufacturer's chart for that model. Charging by weight alone, or by pressure alone, is how systems end up over or undercharged.

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Questions

About this calculator

Can I just charge to the calculated weight?

Only as a starting point on a fully evacuated new system, and even then it is verified by superheat or subcooling afterwards. The nameplate and the manufacturer's data are the authority, not this figure.

Why does line length change the charge?

The liquid line holds refrigerant. A longer run holds more, so the system needs additional charge to fill it without starving the evaporator.

Does the suction line need adding too?

It holds vapour, which weighs very little, so it is normally ignored. The liquid line is what matters.

The formula

total = factory charge + (line length - included length) x ounces per foot / 16

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Estimating is the easy part

The jobs you never hear about cost more than the ones you mis-measure. BDEVY builds the marketing, systems and automation that bring them in.