In the heat of the summer, a lot of homeowners are deciding whether or not their refrigerant needs a refill. Most of the time people wonder why their AC needs more refrigerant, and the answer to this is simple – it is because the refrigerant line has a leak. If your AC is low on it, you need to be sure that your technician fixes the leak and not just “top it off.”
If you are unaware of the signs that your AC might need a refrigerant refill without having to call HVAC repair services, read this article.
You Hear Strange Noises
If you notice that there are strange noises that come from your AC, do not ignore them. Whether you hear gurgling or hissing, these noises are signs that there is a system issue, and it could potentially be a refrigerant leak. Unfortunately, for the minor leaks, you might not even hear anything strange. You must pay attention to them because in case there is a leak, you must turn off the unit right away and call for a repairman. Most of the time, minor issues in AC units can lead to major problems and breakdowns if they are not addressed properly.
It Never Cools Your Home
The refrigerant in the AC system is to absorb heat from the indoor air and then dump it outside.
If your AC has low refrigerant, it cannot absorb the same amount of heat from your home. That can lead to an air conditioner running nonstop and it never makes your home cool.
Your AC has Ice Frost
If you see ice or frost on your AC, it can be a sign that there is a low level of refrigerant. When they get too low, it causes the refrigerant temperature to drop below normal. As time goes by, this causes ice to build up on refrigerant lines and evaporated coil.
Thermostat is Unresponsive
In case the temperature in your home is warm, and you continuously lessen the temperature setting on the thermostat without seeing any change. After that, your refrigerant might have to be refilled. The refrigerant is responsible when it comes to removing the heat from outside before it circulates in your home. Without having that, your AC system cannot properly cool air to the preference you want before it goes into your home. This is common in the summertime when the AC system may use more refrigerant that cools down the hot desert air prior to sending it to you.
Your Energy Bills are High
While your AC is running non-stop to try cooling your home, you will be dealing with a huge bill. The truth is, the high energy bill can be caused by something else. Before you jump to conclusions, look for other signs.
Leak
Do not let the contractor just top off the refrigerant. Keep in mind that your AC refrigerant is low, it has a leak somewhere. If you refill it without fixing the leaks, it will be low again soon.
A good technician will inform you that you have a leak and then will fix it for you. Some companies will not do that because they will rather just charge you so you will come back and fill up your system.
You can contact HVAC companies Falls Church if your AC needs a refrigerant refill.