Refrigerant is used and contained within all central air conditioning systems. In order to make it feel colder, the refrigerant allows the system to remove heat from your home’s air. There may be a problem with your system’s refrigerant if in the event your AC is struggling to provide your home with conditioned air. Today, we at Air Supply Air Conditioning & Heating would like to discuss the basics of refrigerant to help you better understand its function and potential problems associated with it.
What is the Working Process of Refrigerant?
Many people do not know how refrigerant works or even where it is at. Between the indoor evaporator coil and the outdoor condenser unit, your AC’s refrigerant travels. It absorbs heat from the circulated air in the evaporator coils, and in the condenser coils, it’s cooled down so that can it return to the evaporator coil and continue to condition your home’s air.
Common Refrigerant Related Problems
When you don’t have adequate refrigerant for the cooling process to occur, there could come a time, unfortunately. Below are the common concerns.
1) Leaking Refrigerant. Over time, the refrigerant line can leak as a result of the metal eroding. You will feel the impact as your air conditioner struggles to cool your home eventually, though the leaks will start small. While the air conditioner is in operation, you may hear an unusually loud whistling or hissing noise. Additional symptoms include:
– Cooling performance is less than optimal.
– Humidity levels indoors are higher
– Your energy bills have spiked
2) AC System is Undercharged. 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 if there is a low charge. It could result in the unit overheating and shutting down when there is a high charge. It is critical to hire reputable, seasoned, licensed HVAC professionals to handle your heating and cooling equipment with an error like this is just one.
Beware of 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 a 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.
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For 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 want. Especially if you plan to replace your AC soon, but this would be unwise, some contractors may recommend the temporary solution of adding refrigerant to a leaking line. Particularly if it is the now outdated R-22 refrigerant commonly known as Freon, refrigerant leaks are harmful to the environment. If you suspect an issue with your air conditioning systemin the Las Vegas Valley, call Air Supply Air Conditioning & Heating and let us help you! We also provide installation, replacement, and maintenance services.