How To Tell If Your Home Ac Needs Recharged

Refrigerant is the "blood" of your AC system. Without the right corporeality, your system won't be able to cool your home properly. Merely, determining whether or non your AC system needs refrigerant can be tricky because low refrigerant "symptoms" can likewise be the symptoms of other AC issues (we'll dig into that later).

However, if you recollect your AC may be depression on refrigerant, look for these 4 signs:

• Your energy bills have increased
• Yous observe warm air coming from your vents
• In that location'south ice or frost forming on your Air conditioning
• Your Air-conditioning is making a hissing or bubbling noise

In this blog, we'll explain the four "signs" to a higher place and how low refrigerant might be the culprit. Nosotros'll also explore other reasons you may exist noticing each sign then that you can determine whether you actually have a refrigerant issue or non.

Prefer to speak with a professional? Nosotros become it! Nosotros've had lots of feel working with refrigerant issues, so no matter what is going on, we will exist able to diagnose the problem and discover a solution. Learn more about the Ac repair services we offer or schedule service!

Sign #1: Increased free energy bills

If you discover that your energy bills have increased and you haven't made significant changes to your home's temperature, you may have a refrigerant leak.

As we mentioned above, refrigerant is the "blood" of your AC organization. Your Air-conditioning blows warm air over an evaporator coil which is full of refrigerant. The refrigerant then picks up that rut from the air and carries that oestrus outside where information technology's dumped.

If there is not enough refrigerant in your Ac organization, your Air-conditioning can't get rid of equally much heat per cooling cycling, meaning your system will demand to run longer and work harder to absurd your home. Longer run times mean higher energy bills.

Other issues that can crusade increased free energy bills

While increased energy bills are a sign of low refrigerant, increased energy bills tin can as well exist the result of:

• An aging Ac organisation- If your Ac system is 10+ years old, your high energy bills are probable the outcome of an crumbling system. Over time, your AC becomes less efficient, which means it has to work longer and results in increased energy bills.
• A system that's also minor or too large for your home- If your AC system was recently installed, your high free energy bills could merely be caused by a system that is too small or too big for your home. A system that is as well minor volition have to work constantly to meet demand and a organization that is likewise large will constantly plow on and off. Both of these scenarios use more energy than if your system was to just run steadily, which can increment your cooling bills.
• A dirty air filter- If your Air conditioning system is neither new nor x+ years old, our side by side suggestion would be to check your AC filter. If it'due south dirty, it could exist restricting airflow to your AC system, which will make your Ac work longer.

If y'all have a clean filter, your organization is properly sized and is under 10 years of age, you probably have a refrigerant leak.

Sign #2: Warm air blowing from supply vents

As we mentioned above, refrigerant absorbs heat from your dwelling's air and transfers information technology outside. If refrigerant levels are low, your Ac can't blot enough rut per cycle, significant you may observe warmer air blowing from your supply vents.

Other problems that can crusade warm air to blow from vents

Before you call a professional to come and recharge your system, we'd recommend replacing your air filter. If your Air-conditioning filter is clogged, it can prevent your arrangement from pulling in enough warm air (significant there will be less cool air for your Ac to blow out).

Clean air filter (left) next to a dirty air filter (right)

However, if you have replaced your AC filter and you detect that your Ac organization is still producing warm air, you lot probably exercise have depression refrigerant levels and should reach out to a pro.

Sign #3: Ice or frost on your AC

If you spot water ice or frost anywhere on your Air conditioning, it could be a sign that your refrigerant levels are low. When refrigerant levels get too low, it tin cause the temperature of the refrigerant to drop below normal pattern temperatures. Somewhen, this will cause ice to build on the refrigerant lines and the evaporator scroll.

Other issues that can cause ice/frost to build

• Muddied air filter- Low airflow can cause your evaporator coil to freeze, and if your air filter is clogged, it could reduce the airflow to your AC organisation. And so, if you haven't checked your air filter already, yous should do that before calling a professional person.
• Closed vents- As we mentioned higher up, depression airflow can cause your evaporator coil to freeze. To prevent this, yous should ensure that all of your vents are open and unobstructed.

If you lot've checked your air filter and ensured that your vents are all open, you likely have a refrigerant leak and will demand to reach out to a professional person for help.

Sign #four: Hissing or bubbles noise

If you hear a hissing or bubbling noise coming from around your outdoor Ac unit, chances are it's the sound of refrigerant escaping through a leak.

If y'all hear hissing, that means the refrigerant is escaping in gas form. If you hear bubbles, it's leaking via liquid form.

Other issues that cause a hissing/bubbling racket

Not many other AC problems cause a hissing or bubbles noise, and then if you lot hear this sound, you likely have a refrigerant leak. You'll want to telephone call a professional ASAP to come up and repair it.

Getting your air conditioner stock-still

If you suspect you accept a refrigerant leak, you'll need to contact a professional to check information technology out. Refrigerant is a toxic substance, and then it's not something you can legally gear up on your own.

Only a word of alarm: Refrigerant isn't "used up" like gas in a car. If yous are low on refrigerant, y'all have a leak in your AC system. So, if a tech simply tops off your refrigerant without fixing the leak, it is a temporary solution and you will likely be in the aforementioned situation again soon.

Brand certain they find the leak, evacuate the remaining refrigerant, repair the leak and so add the appropriate amount of refrigerant for your organization.

Live in the Phoenix area and need an air conditioning contractor?

Contact George Brazil to fix your refrigerant issues.

Source: https://georgebrazilhvac.com/blog/4-signs-your-ac-may-need-a-refrigerant-freon-charge

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