Does your Albuquerque air conditioning system maybe need an AC refrigerant recharge?

Sure, having to top up refrigerant levels shouldn’t be frequent, but if it happens, you can expect your AC unit to work far harder than normal in order to keep your home cool.

If the airflow seems less powerful, the air flowing out of your vents is warm, or there is ice on it, you may need to see if your low AC refrigerant.

Signs That Your Central Air Conditioning Needs Recharging

Air conditioning depends on the refrigerant that cycles through the system. It withdraws the heat from inside and sends outside, which makes your interior place cold region.

Lower levels of refrigerant reduce the efficiency of your system, which results in a drop in cooling effectiveness and an increase in energy bills. But how do you know it is that your AC needs recharge?

Let’s break it down.

When My AC Is Ready for a Recharge?

Refrigerant doesn’t expend itself the way gasoline in a car does. Your air conditioner does not use up refrigerant during operation, as it is a closed loop system and the only way you lose refrigerating levels is through a leak.

If you think your system is low on refrigerant, then there are a few other things that need to be checked before making an assumption.

Common symptoms of a low refrigerants air conditioner are:

Warm Air Instead of Cool Air

The easiest way to determine if your AC unit is functioning normally is to check the air volume coming into your space through your vents.

Your system may need more refrigerant if the air is warm or less cool than it used to be. Just in case, before you start making alternative plans and changing your household thermostat to know that it is not set to cool.

Ice Buildup on the AC Unit

Imagine, if your AC refrigerant lines or lines on the outside unit are icing up that is a sign of low refrigerant. The freezing is caused by the coils getting so cold, as there would not be enough refrigerant in the system. This if ignored, may result in big harm to your AC unit.

Hissing or Bubbling Noises

The refrigerant is a pressurized, closed system, so it can cause hissing or bubbling when there’s leak. Your AC unit could have a small hole in the refrigerant line if you start hearing strange noises. A situation that demands the assistance of an expert HVAC technician.

Higher Energy Bills

If you notice a sudden surge in your utility bill, it could mean that your AC has been toiling at higher than desired levels. A system that is low on refrigerant has to run longer in order to provide your home with cool air and this can lead to higher energy bills.

AC Running Longer Than Usual

An air conditioner that runs and runs without ever reaching the set temperature is more than likely struggling due to low refrigerant. Without adequate refrigerant, the system loses its ability to absorb and transfer heat effectively meaning your home becomes increasingly difficult to cool.

Common Causes of Refrigerant Leaks

A naturally aspirated engine is an internal combustion engine where heightened air pressure means atmospheric pressure while the engine vents out exhaust. [Since refrigerant equals only absorbs heat, in a leak-free system additional refrigerant would not circulate.

The following are some of the most frequent sources of refrigerant leaks in AC systems:

Coils Corroded

The metal coils inside your AC unit can corrode and etch tiny holes through which refrigerant escapes.

Refrigerant Leaks

Looser fittings and connections in the line may permit liquid refrigerant to escape with the vibrations of an AC unit running.

Physical Damage

If there has been a collision with your outside AC unit or damage, it can lead to refrigerant leak.

Factory Defects

In rare cases, manufacturing defects in AC components can lead to slow refrigerant leaks.

If you suspect a leak, it is most reasonable to call an HVAC expert. This skill allows them to pinpoint the problem, fix the leak, and recharge the refrigerant (if necessary) on their own.

What Happens If You Ignore Low Refrigerant?

When you use your AC with low refrigerant, you run into a problem. So, what can go wrong if that does not change?

• Compressor Failure: The compressor is the costliest part of an air conditioning system. If it is allowed to run with too little refrigerant, it will burn itself out trying to cool and then you need an entire new compressor.
• Increased Utilities: If your ac is in dire straits, it will need to use more energy, leading you to pay an increased amount every month.
• The Lifetime of the AC Unit is shrinking: By using a system that has to work harder to keep your home cool, overall components are put under more stress and wear out sooner, meaning more repairs.

What to Do If Your AC Needs a Refrigerant Recharge

If you have done everything and think that your air conditioner is low on refrigerant, then hire the services of a good professional.

Recharging an AC simply is not a DIY one, but rather a task best left to licensed HVAC technicians who can both execute it legally and do so safely.

When you have a service visit, the technician will:

• Check your AC for Leaks — Before topping off the refrigerant level, the technician is expected to inspect for leaks and patch anything that is broken.
• Calibrate Refrigerant – They have specialized tools to determine the amount of refrigerant that your system is running low on.
• Recharge the System – A professional will add the right amount of refrigerant if necessary to return your parts a peak working order.
• AC Testing — At last, they will check your AC to ensure that it has restarted and is working again.

A Note About Freon (R-22 Refrigerant)

If your AC unit was manufactured before 2010, it might use R-22 refrigerant, commonly known as Freon. Since R-22 causes a lot of environmental damage, no one makes it anymore so the supply is virtually non-existent.

If your system needs R-22, you might think about changing it for a more recent and also energy-efficient ac unit.

More recent models are increasingly using green refrigerants like R-410A, which is a better and more commonly available alternative. If you are not familiar with which refrigerant type is used in your system, an HVAC technician can determine this for you.

Trusted AC Recharge in Albuquerque by Day & Night Plumbing, Heating & Cool

Day & Night Plumbing, Heating & Cooling can help if your AC just is not cutting it against the heat.

Our professional technicians can examine your system, check refrigerant levels, and recharge if needed. We offer our services to the residents of Murrieta and San Diego, Winchester, CA and complete every job fast and on time.

Call Day & Night Plumbing today at 505-974-5797 for your home’s Albuquerque AC inspection. Do not wait until your AC has stopped working.