learn me car vs home A/C

Home ac froze up today. I can get around a car ac ok, but have never touched home ac. Can the same tools / principals be used on home ac? Every call to the ac people seams to be a $1000.00. We had both inside and outside heat pump units replaced last year.

Any in site would help

Sweating in florida

If it froze up it's either lack of airflow or low refrigerant most likely. I would check the filter first, and if that looks good, see if the fins are dirty. I'm no expert, but usually it's one of those things.

Froze up means usually means low on freon or the filters very dirty.

The principals are similar between the systems, but the freon is usually different. Cars are R12 and R134, home systems are usually R22 and R410A, which you can't buy without EPA permission.

R22 charges just like 12 and 134. BTDT, hook up the lines and it sucks freon out of the can. R410 is a blended freon and requires charging with liquid. Doing it wrong could cost you a compressor.

I installed the mini-split system in my house three years ago. It was precharged for 15' lines so all I had to do was vacuum the lines and inside unit and open a couple of valves. When it burned up the compressor speed control, I ordered the part and changed it myself. When it needed freon (R410A) this spring I called a pro. Finding the leak, fixing it and charging the system was $175.00. Me blowing up the compressor trying to do it on the cheap, $$$$. Though if I could have bought the freon I probably would have tried it anyway.

You can charge home A/C with propane once the R22 is evacuated. Works fantastic.

If someone squacks about you using propane, call it R290 and tell them to STFU.

Thanks for the responses gang! Filter was pretty good but I replaced it anyway. Frooze up again today. So I have a probably have a freon leak. Since I can't buy freon, is there any other way to fill the system to look for the leak?

Pull the fuze and hose her down. Make sure the filter is clean and freon is at a good pressure. Fire her back up after she is nice and warm. If it happens again, call a professional.