Good On-line Source for R438A?

[SVibs]

It’s been unseasonably warm here and I fired up the AC a couple of days ago for the first time this year to drop the indoor temp a couple of degrees. I woke up the following morning to find room temp degrees higher than set point and the vents blowing room temperature air. I had a look at low pressure line going to the evaporator coil and the line had a good bit of frost on it and suspect the coil was a block of ice. I shut the system down and tried several hours later and was getting 56 degree air out of the vents. An hour later the discharge air temp was in the high 60s and the coil was frozen again.

Air flow seems normal, filter is new and I even tried without a filter and the problem persists. I haven’t checked pressures yet (raining) but I’m all but certain I’ll find pressure is low and I’ll need to add refrigerant. This is an older R22 Goodman unit that was likely installed when the house was built in 2000. At some point it appears the unit had a major repair and was recharged with R438A.

I’m EPA 608 Universal certified and my local supplier wants $680 for a 25 lb (only size they carry) tank of R438A. I’m hoping to get one more season out of this system before replacing. R438A pricing seems all over the place--does anyone have a good on-line source they can recommend?

 

[fitter30]

25 lb drum? Would be cheaper at a refrigeration supply house.
$45+ups to ship
$48 ups hazmat
State and county tax
For me added $114

 

[SVibs]

Royal Refrigerants ships for free and doesn't appear to tack on a Hazmat fee. Price ($320) is also the cheapest I've been able to find. It's still pouring so I haven't been able to check pressure. Looks like tomorrow's not going to be much better.

 

[chinboys]

You don't need 25#s unless you plan on using it for years to top off your system or plan on using it elsewhere.
Ask the company who retrofitted your system if they will sell you your top off charge and allow you to do the work.

 

[SVibs]

You don't need 25#s

You're right. Unfortunately, there are very limited options for small canister sizes. The best price I've been able to find for a small 28 oz canister canister is $150 plus shipping which is insane. As far as asking the company that did the retrofit goes, I have no idea who did the work. We purchased the home in 2016 and it was done some unknown period of time before then.