Refrigerant is contained in all central air conditioning systems. To make the air feel cooler, the refrigerant allows the system to remove heat from your home’s air. There may be a problem with your system’s refrigerant if our air conditioner is struggling to provide your home with conditioned air. With refrigerant needs in mind, we at Air Supply Heating & Air Conditioning would like to discuss when your AC needs it and how it works.
Purpose of AC Refrigerant
Many people do not know where the refrigerant nor how it functions in the air conditioner. Between the indoor evaporator coil and the outdoor condenser unit is where the AC’s refrigerant travels. Refrigerant absorbs heat from the circulated air in the evaporator coils, and it’s cooled down in the condenser coils so that can it return to the evaporator coil and continue to condition your home’s air.
Common Refrigerant Problems & Failures
When you don’t have adequate refrigerant for the cooling process to occur, there could come a time unfortunately. The two most common scenarios are listed below.
Refrigerant Leaks. As a result of the metal eroding over time, the refrigerant line can leak. You’ll feel the impact as your AC struggles to cool your home eventually, even with leaks that begin small. While the air conditioner is in operation, you may hear an unusually loud whistling or hissing noise. You will also experience the following:
– Cooling performance is less than optimal
– Energy bills has unusual spikes
– Indoors of higher humidity levels
Undercharged System. The contractor may not have followed the manufacturer’s specifications and put in too little refrigerant when your system was installed. It can cause problems when there is an improper charge, or amount of refrigerant. Frozen evaporator coils and lukewarm cooling can result in a low charge. It could result in the unit overheating and shutting down with for a high charge. One of the reasons why it’s critical to hire reputable, seasoned, licensed HVAC professionals to handle your heating and cooling equipment is ensuring an error like this does not occur.
Use Caution Due to Refrigerant Scams
As if it were a fuel that’s consumed as the AC runs, some dishonest HVAC technicians will tell you that refrigerant must be topped off. Refrigerant levels will always be the same, short of leak. Without truly fixing your system’s problem, this scam allows these technicians to return to your home over and over to refill your refrigerant and keep collecting your money. Having a technician to either tell you there’s a leak and then fix it or explain that the system is undercharged and then fill it to the right level is what you are looking for. Especially if you plan to replace your AC soon, some contractors may recommend the temporary solution of adding refrigerant to a leaking line, but this would be unwise. Particularly if it is the now outdated R-22 refrigerant commonly known as Freon, refrigerant leaks are harmful to the environment.
Central Air Conditioning Diagnosis, Repair, Replacement, Maintenance & More in Summerlin, North LV, Henderson, Centennial, Enterprise, Lone Mountain Village, Paradise, Sunrise Manor, Spring Valley, Aliante, Desert Shores, Eldorado, Peccole Ranch, Silverado Ranch, Tuscany Village, Whitney, Winchester & Las Vegas Nevada
If you suspect a refrigerant problem or even have other dilemmas with your air conditioner in the Las Vegas Desert, call in the professionals of Air Supply Heating & Air Conditioningand let us assist you.