Taking care of your HVAC unit can be a lot of work, especially when it’s not working like it’s supposed to. One common problem with AC units has to do with the level of your refrigerant being too low. You may be wondering what the right level should be for your HVAC unit refrigerant. The only way to check the amount of refrigerant in your air conditioning system is with the help of a licenced HVAC technician. However, there are signs that you can look out for to determine if you should have your system professionally checked.
Signs That Your HVAC Is Low on Refrigerant
Frozen Refrigerant Lines
The refrigerant lines in your air conditioning unit are responsible for transferring its refrigerant from one part of the system to another. If the refrigerant in the system becomes too low, it may result in a pressure drop, and low pressure means lower temperatures. This can lead to the evaporator coil freezing, which causes the moisture in the air to freeze and create a buildup of ice on the refrigerant line. Even though ice is building up, it translates into warmer air coming into your home or place of business.
Blowing Warm Air
The most common cause of warm air blowing through your vents is due to low refrigerant levels. In most cases, there may be a leak in the refrigerant lines, which makes heat exchange impossible without Freon.
When the unit becomes too low on refrigerant, there won’t be enough to keep the air cool around the coils. This can result in more heat getting trapped in the unit’s cooling chamber, which will blow warm air into your home.
Some other reasons why your unit may be blowing hot air include:
- Clogged air filters
- Clogged expansion valve
- The thermostat isn’t functioning properly
- Loss of compression
- Blown fuse or tripped breaker
Hissing & Bubbling Noises
In the event of a refrigerant leak, you’ll most likely begin to hear a hissing or bubbling noise coming from your unit. This is a good way to determine whether or not your AC is potentially losing refrigerant; the odd noises are a good indication that it needs to be serviced by an HVAC technician.
Thermostat Settings
If you keep your AC unit continuously running, but it never meets your thermostat setting, the refrigerant may be low. While the unit operates just fine, you won’t be able to keep your home as cool as you would like it, especially on those summer days when it’s needed most. An HVAC technician will be able to check and see if a refrigerant leak is responsible for this problem.
However, the issue could also be that your thermostat isn’t reading correctly. Knowing how to calibrate a thermostat properly will ensure that it starts communicating with your AC system properly.
High Energy Bill
If your AC unit is low on refrigerant, it will have to work extra hard to keep your house cool, which means it will need more energy than usual. As a result, you may begin to notice a spike in your bill for the month or see it rise gradually throughout the summer. If your energy bills have become alarmingly high, now, you’ll have a good indication of why.
If you’re starting to suspect something is wrong with your HVAC system, you can rely on our professional team at Provincial Heating and Cooling to find the problem. With over 20 years of experience, our technicians provide reliable and trustworthy services for your heating and cooling needs. Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you.