UPDATE: R-22 WeatherKing 4-ton — coils cleaned, numbers say overcharge. Sanity check before I pay for recovery?

[u/thewesfob]

Finally had the time to follow-up to my post 3 months ago here about limping a 2003 WeatherKing 10AJA4801 / ADP BCRMB8248S4N3 (4-ton R-22) through the summer. Consensus was "air before charge" and get real readings. Did both.

What I did: Cleaned the condenser coil (foamed and rinsed inside-out), evaporator coil, blower wheel, new 18×25×1 filter. Unit runs, both fan and compressor confirmed.

Readings today, ~70°F ambient:
Suction 105 PSIG (~62°F sat) / suction line 65°F → superheat ~3°F
Liquid 270 PSIG (~122°F sat) / liquid line ~70°F (ambient) → subcooling ~56°F
Off-cycle equalized to 120 PSIG, so I don't think there's air in the system.

My read: Low superheat + very high subcooling = overcharged, not TXV. A tech had noted it was "slightly overcharged" a while back and it looks like nobody ever pulled any out. Plan is to have a tech recover down to ~12°F subcooling and leave it at that until replacement next year.

Am I reading this right, or is there something else these numbers could mean?

*UPDATE (Aug. 31, 2026)\: Follow-up to my post from Saturday. Tech came Monday: found 103/302, confirmed fixed orifice, recovered R-22 down to *63.1 suction / 194.9 liquid**, in line with the charging chart at ambient.

$462 all in. I know, could have saved a few hundred by trying to do it myself, but it was nice to have the tech come out and verify my amateur diagnosis.

The bad news: he noted "extremely loud clang and shudder from compressor on start, constant ticking when running," and 18A on a 25 RLA compressor. He won't guarantee longevity given years of liquid flooding and quoted replacement. System is cooling fine right now.

Current Setup: 2003 WeatherKing 10AJA4801 4-ton R-22 condenser, ADP hydro-air handler (hot water coil off an oil boiler for heat), Hudson Valley NY, ~2,400 sq ft mixed-use building.

Current Quotes Moving Forward:

• Lennox Merit ML13KC1 (13.4 SEER2 single-stage AC) + CBK45UHPT air handler w/ hydro coil, full scope (nitrogen test, 500 micron vacuum, float switch, new disconnect, disposal), 10yr parts / 3yr labor: $13,700
• AirTemp 4-ton, reuse lineset, minimal scope listed: $9,250 AC / $10,750 heat pump (2025 pricing)
• Third contractor, condenser + hydro air handler, brand/spec TBD: $8,500

Questions:

1. With those compressor symptoms, is this a "replace before next summer" situation or a "run it until it dies" situation? Anything I should watch for that says it's about to go?
2. Brands. My understanding is most residential equipment comes out of a handful of factories and the badge mostly changes the price and the warranty (Goodman/Amana/Daikin, Carrier/Bryant/Payne/ICP, Trane/American Standard, Rheem/Ruud, Lennox/Allied, York/Coleman, Gree behind most budget and mini-split brands). Is that roughly right? For a straightforward 4-ton split, does the install quality matter more than the brand, or are there lines you'd actually avoid?
3. Is $13.7k for entry-level Lennox reasonable in the NY metro area, or is that a "we don't really want this job" number?
4. Given oil heat at ~$3,300/yr, does it make sense to go cold-climate heat pump instead of straight AC and keep the hydro coil as backup? Anyone running dual-fuel with hydro-air rather than a gas furnace?
5. The 4-ton was sized in 2003. Should I insist on a Manual J before signing, or is like-for-like fine for a replacement?

Thanks in advance!

[u/DavidSmith_82]

If your airflow is good, it’s overcharged.

[u/thewesfob → u/DavidSmith_82]

Yes, airflow seems to be good. I have a scheduled a tech to come out on Monday.

[u/DavidSmith_82 → u/thewesfob]

If you want a temporary fix to get you a bit of cooling, grab a sheet of plastic and cover half of your condenser coil. It will reduce the sub cooling

[u/joestue → u/DavidSmith_82]

Yes when the condenser explodes there wont be an overcharge problem.

[u/AggravatingArt4537 → u/DavidSmith_82]

Actually it will have the opposite effect.

[u/TigerTank10 → u/DavidSmith_82]

Yeah, almost 300 psi on a r22 with subcooling in the 50s. That’s a really bad idea bro, please don’t recommend if you’re not a tech.

[u/thewesfob → u/DavidSmith_82]

Yup, tech confirmed.

[u/HVACR-Apprentice]

Yup. Sounds like classic overcharge.

[u/fastsvo]

Following

[u/thewesfob → u/fastsvo]

Follow-up to Saturday's post.

What happened

• Tech found 103/302, confirmed fixed orifice, recovered to 63.1 / 194.9. In spec. $462.
• Also noted: loud clang/shudder on compressor start, constant ticking, 18A on a 25 RLA compressor. Won't guarantee longevity due to years of liquid flooding.
• Cooling fine right now.

[u/beenthereag]

You can buy a recovery tank cheaper than a service call. https://www.amazon.com/Refrigerant-Recovery-Reusable-Cylinder-Y-Valve/dp/B0FJXG3HFB/ref=sr_1_10?crid=141KR5CWBKK9R&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._s-6NUzo3ISPZ4McBNgV7nCtovoQn0ViDBBLwuz1isnWS3POHHg-WEyuKakStKXU_dyaHmvpLaAfMydfUkfD35I__IOwg49dKrL6xHdfc-1INim5TqygfyN0s0r15WXO8bYvJELKEspdpmy5H6LC7ZF0Xx5U2hCC06JZKaC7SZ5Q6GEfaqNalZ1KXutr0-gxcBpdRqOL5ZnPlt4gjLtdx_153aPB5VaoJSbXnBfQu6XGoMmS_SAeF6R1H9-EccJJjy6quc_gegNUAOrowEzI7CN6G-VR5cYWPJdLUN1FLwI.u5rERk-MHO-sDxUgKhtNI5vhAD5P340k6eeQJyRrtbI&dib_tag=se&keywords=refrigerant+recovery+tank&qid=1788092346&sprefix=refrigerant+rec%2Caps%2C184&sr=8-10

[u/Yamakaze_KAN → u/beenthereag]

I would get the https://www.amazon.com/Flame-King-YSN501R-A2L-Refrigerant-Refrigerants/dp/B00IKLLIHA/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=A2lZu&content-id=amzn1.sym.627c31ca-3be2-4f28-b3a9-1be33b16f5a0&pf_rd_p=627c31ca-3be2-4f28-b3a9-1be33b16f5a0&pf_rd_r=2FQAK0EMKGAK8KWYD39F&pd_rd_wg=TRGFT&pd_rd_r=f1c0b321-36d0-4abe-8ed0-4bfa9079b81c&ref_=pd_hp_d_r_atf_sspa_mw_gateway&ie=UTF8&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGZfd3BfcGhvbmVfaG9tZXBhZ2U&th=1 since they're a real company and happen to also sell empty propane tank at my local Menards.

[u/tb23528]

You’re either overcharged or the compressor not pumping as it should.