Guides and Tips

How much does an R-410A refrigerant for my AC cost?

January 18, 2023
How much does an R-410A refrigerant for my AC cost

The average cost to refill your AC unit with R-410A refrigerant is $280, material and labor costs included. Every pound of R-410A refrigerant costs $6 on average. 

An AC unit needs at least 3 pounds of R-410A refrigerant per ton of the unit to be fully refilled. Thus, an AC unit weighing around 2 tons would at least need 6 pounds of R-410A refrigerant, worth $36, to be fully refilled.

However, please take note that since January 1, 2023, R-410A is no longer used on new AC units and HVAC systems. 

Under the new directives set forward by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), R-410A will be phased out in favor of newer refrigerants like R-454b.

This phase-out means that production of new R-410A refrigerants will decrease, which in turn can make them more expensive later on as the supply starts failing to meet the demand.

While using an AC unit running on R-410A isn’t illegal after 2023, refilling it with new R-410A will be harder and more expensive to do with each passing year.

R-410A Refrigerant Price Overview and Comparison

R-410A Refrigerant Price Overview and Comparison

Even though R-410A refrigerant is common in homes and businesses, the price to refill an AC unit with the said refrigerant can still greatly vary in different areas.

How much does R-410A cost in major US cities?

How much does R-410A cost in major US cities

Here are some cities major US cities and their price ranges for R-410A refilling:

US City and StatePrice Range (Labor Included)
Boston, Massachusetts$100–$160
Dallas, Texas$100–$270
St. Louis, Missouri$130–$270
Long Beach, California$150–$530
New York City, New York$200–$400
Chicago, Illinois$230–$390
Durham, North Carolina$550

Some places have considerably cheaper rates for R-410A refilling, while some are more expensive compared to the national average. 

This is because some places have a higher demand for R-410A or the number of licensed HVAC technicians available is far lower than what is needed in the area, leading to pricier labor costs.

How much does R-410A cost per pound?

How much does R-410A cost per pound

A pound of R-410A can cost $6 on average, but the price range starts at $3 and ends at $8. There are also 25-pound canisters available in the market which cost $120 on average.

You need at least 3 pounds of R-410A refrigerant for every ton of your AC unit. 

For example, if you have an AC unit that weighs 3 tons, you’ll need 9 pounds of R-410A refrigerant, which will cost you $27 without the labor cost.

Please take note that refilling an AC unit with refrigerants can only be done by a licensed professional. 

Factors That May Affect the Price of R-410A Refrigerant for Your AC

There are two factors that heavily affect the price of refilling R-410A refrigerants for your AC: labor and material costs. 

Cost of R-410A Refrigerant in Your Area

Cost of R-410A Refrigerant in Your Area

The national average cost of R-410A refrigerant is $220, but some places like New York have prices at $300 on average.

The prices of R-410A refrigerant can greatly vary from area to area, as some places have more available supplies ready for their demands. 

Aside from location, another factor that can affect the cost of R-410A refrigerant is the time of the year. Prices are naturally higher during the hotter seasons because the demand is higher.

Labor Costs for Refilling an AC Unit with R-410A Refrigerant

Labor Costs for Refilling an AC Unit with R-410A Refrigerant

You can expect to spend $200 on average for the labor of refilling your AC unit with R-410A refrigerant. This includes the process of removing the old refrigerants in your AC unit.

While some may say that the cost is too high, it’s only because you need a well-trained and licensed HVAC professional to handle the dangerous chemical.

This process is something you can’t DIY or assign to an untrained person. EPA prohibits untrained personnel from handling R-410A refrigerants.

This is because the chemicals within the refrigerants not only pose a health risk when improperly handled, but they can also cause damage to the environment if not disposed of properly.

On the plus side, hiring an HVAC professional not only ensures proper refilling of R-410A refrigerant in your AC unit but also allows a professional to take a close look into your AC unit and look for any damages or problems before they cause trouble.

If they find any parts that need repairs or replacement, they can do the repairs while refilling the AC unit with R-410A refrigerant, saving you from any headaches later on.

However, any parts that need to be replaced mean you’ll need to buy new ones, which can add to your final bill.

Tips on How to Save Costs on R-410A Refrigerant

Here are some tips you should consider to avoid racking up high costs while refilling your R-410A refrigerant.

Keep your AC regularly inspected by a professional

Keep your AC regularly inspected by a professional

While it is unavoidable that your AC unit will slowly degrade and have a chance of leaking refrigerants over time, a well-maintained AC unit can prevent this issue from happening.

Make sure that you let an HVAC professional take a look at your AC units from time to time so that any leaks or damages can be found and fixed immediately. 

The price of hiring an HVAC professional to regularly inspect your AC unit is significantly cheaper compared to constantly refilling your AC unit with refrigerant.

Only refill your AC unit during the colder seasons

Only refill your AC unit during the colder seasons

To save more money, it’s a good idea to only refill your AC unit with R-410A refrigerant during the colder seasons. 

The demand for refrigerants is significantly lower during winter because most homes and businesses don’t need to operate their AC units. 

As a result, prices go down during these months, which allows you to save more money compared to refilling your AC unit during summer.

Buy a newer model of AC

Buy a newer model of AC

All appliances and systems suffer from wear and tear over time. If your AC model is already several years old, then it’s best to buy a new one.

Buying a new AC unit is now the best choice because R-410A is being phased out in the USA. There are already new AC units in the market which use a new refrigerant called R-454b. 

Switching to the new refrigerant early helps you cut down costs tremendously since prices for the R-410A refrigerant will only get higher as time goes by and no new R-410A refrigerants will be produced starting in 2023. 

The R-454b refrigerant is also less harmful to the environment and more efficient to use compared with R-410A. 

FAQs about R-410A Refrigerant

List of HVAC Services

Need your AC refrigerant refilled? Check out our lists of reliable HVAC service providers:

You Might Also Like