I would also be suspicious you need to add 5 pounds of refrigerant. Adding that much refrigerant means you have a leak. Did you ask about finding and repairing it? If you are told there is no leak then I suggest you look for a new oil burner service company.

Thanks, Mike.

I'm looking already, but thought I would see if the HP could even function while 5 pounds down.

The heat pump will function, but you heating and cooling performance will be noticeably worse.

It was functioning at 100% - temp control normal and electrical usage normal.

In fact, when the Techs arrived I specifically told them that and the house was cool on that 85+ degree day.

PS I did a rough calc of what a full charge or R-410 is in my unit. 15.5 lbs of factory original charge and maybe 10-14 oz of line-set additional charge. (I don't know the Diameter of my Line-set.) Call it 16+ Lbs.

5 Pounds added means it was down over 30% in the last 12 months. (They had checked it last year.)

One of our air conditioners (2 ton) works fine until it gets about 2.5lbs down and then it doesn't work at all (yes, we have a leak somewhere). They changed the coil and gassed it up, worked fine for one season and then didn't again. Added 2.5lbs and it worked great again. So we have a slow leak somewhere but they can't find it. The system takes about 5lbs, including lineset. They wanted to replace the condenser but I said no, as they wouldn't guarantee that would solve the problem. Then they wanted to replace the lineset but again wouldn't guarantee that was the problem. So I got rid of that company and will continue to add 2.5lbs every year until something else dies and then get a new system. (There's a dearth of reliable, trustworthy HVAC companies where I live - everyone has the same issues).

How big is your system? 5 lbs of refrigerant leaked out and it seems to be working fine? I would call BS on these guys!

I read years ago that an A/C can cool fine when refrigerant is down 50%. A small overcharge of refrigerant affects performance much more. This was about car A/C, which was R12 back then.

Stax, since you’re in the DC area Washington Consumer Checkbook might list a contractor with good ratings serving your vicinity.

Yeah, I belong to Checkbook and have been researching.

Historically, I have used the contractor associated with my Oil Delivery Service - but there is really no need for that connection.

Checkbook does not list Heating and A/C contractors with Oil delivery separately so it was slowing me down.

You got a good contractor servicing Montgomery County? lol

I used and was happy with Davis & Davis for A/C, heat pumps, and gas heat, before I sold my house. They may do oil also.

I didn't read his post. Tnx for the heads up!

"Didn't watch the video," and "I didn't read his post."

Didn't watch the video, but stay away from "leak sealers"!

Yeah I get so many who think stuff can be fixed with magic. So I decided to waste some of my own money to show people up front how well they "work".