Is Your AC Unit Low on Refrigerant? Here’s How to Find Out

The Summer heat is starting to settle in and, for the first time this season, you just attempted to use your air conditioner. But now it isn’t cooling like it should. Uh oh. Is your AC low on refrigerant?

In short without the refrigerant, an air conditioner is useless. It takes heat from inside your home and pumps it outside. Too little refrigerant, and your AC struggles to cool your home.

Don’t panic yet!

Low refrigerant is an everyday problem and one also relatively easy to fix without a new HVAC system. Continue reading to find out how to know if yours is low on refrigerant.

Are You Seeing Any of These Signs?

Here are some signs that your AC may be low on refrigerant: Watch out for these issues:

• Your air conditioning system isn’t cooling well. If the air blowing from the vents isn’t cold, low refrigerant may be to blame.
• Difficult to cool down for a long time. An air conditioner low on refrigerant can run continuously without significantly cooling down.
• It keeps powering off in middle of cycle. This is a protective mechanism to avoid damage from low refrigerant.
• You hear strange noises. Hissing, gurgling or bubbling sounds may indicate the refrigerant level is too low.
• High electricity bills. With too little refrigerant, the AC unit must run harder and longer to attempt to cool your home, increasing your utility bills.

If you’ve experienced one or more of these issues, refrigerant loss is probably the culprit.

Call in an HVAC Professional for Diagnosis and Repair

Although symptoms can point to low refrigerant levels, only a qualified HVAC technician can accurately diagnose the issue and recharge the system.

You don’t want to attempt adding refrigerant yourself until you first address the source of the leak. That’s because the new refrigerant will probably just leak out right again until the leak is repaired.

Instead, contact an experienced local HVAC company such as MT Pleasant HVAC to schedule an appointment for servicing. Be sure to ask:

• Completely insane, if they ever dealt with AC refrigerant issues
• If they are able to perform a refrigerant leak test
• Whether they will give you a detailed diagnosis of the problem
• Provided they charge fair prices and provide accurate estimates

Knowing where the loss is coming from will help you to stop the leaking refrigerant. Leaking seals or hoses are a common cause. They may then make any repairs necessary and add the correct amount of fresh refrigerant to recharge the system safely.

What Happens When You Call for AC Refrigerant Service

Curious about what happens when the HVAC pro visits your home? A general step-by-step explanation of the refrigerant service:

The technician will first interview you to understand your AC problems. Be prepared to talk about the problems you’ve seen.

Then, they will conduct a thorough visual inspection of the complete system. They’ll search for any clear leaks, damage or faults.

Next, the critical parts, such as refrigerant lines and connections, will be checked for leaks. Electronic leak detectors can identify small losses of refrigerant.

When the leak source is found, the technician can then provide the required repairs to seal it. This could mean replacing seals, tightening connections or patching holes.

Having resolved the leaks, they can now safely recharge the system with new refrigerant. The correct amount will be determined based on things such as the size of your home.

Finally, they’ll check the AC unit to ensure normal functioning and cooling capacity has returned. It can also note any remnants issues for possible fix at a later date.

And that’s it! After a few hours of skilled work, you can have your air conditioner back to blowing cool, comfortable air just in time for summer.

Top 5 Tips to Keep Them Proper

To prevent low refrigerant problems later on, follow these best practices:

1. Change filters regularly. Blocked up, dirty filters cause your AC to strain harder and can even result in refrigerant leaks. Replace disposable filters every 1-3 months.
2. Tend to small repairs promptly. Such little issues like loose fittings can actually lead you to a huge refrigerant loss. Don’t delay repairs.
3. Insulate refrigerant lines. Lines are protected from damage and refrigerant dissipation with weatherproof insulation.
4. Limit runtimes. Lingering too long burdens the AC system and hastens refrigerant leakage as seals wear out sooner.
5. Have a professional HVAC technician perform annual maintenance. A tune-up and inspection make sure the system is leak-free and operating efficiently.

Let us Help!

If your air conditioner appears sluggish, or has other ills, don’t wait to do anything about it. The issue may be low refrigerant. “If you keep running the AC without enough refrigerant, you could face even more expensive repairs later on.”

MT Pleasant HVAC has the expertise, knowledge and tools to properly troubleshoot AC refrigerant issues. We locate leaks, professionally repair them and recharge the system properly. Cooling has been restored, so you can beat the heat this summer.

 

Related guides: how to spot refrigerant leaks early and signs your heat pump is low on refrigerant. For professional help, see AC repair in Mount Pleasant.