4 Signs Your Air Conditioner is Low on Freon
On a scorching summer day, nothing refreshes you more than the cool air coming out of your air conditioner. But what if, instead of cooling your home, the AC blows out warm air? Such a situation can be frustrating. Yet, that’s one of the most common signs of low refrigerant symptoms.
In a perfect setting, your air conditioner shouldn’t need more refrigerant since it’s never used up like in the case of gas in a car—meaning you only need a refill if there’s a leak somewhere.
But for you to be certain that your AC is running out of coolant, you’ll need a technician to check the refrigerant level. For this reason, it’s a good idea to schedule yearly air conditioning services and maintenance.
Here are four low refrigerant symptoms to look out for that show it might be time for HVAC services to have your refrigerant replenished.
Low Refrigerant Symptoms
Symptoms that your AC is low on refrigerant:
- Increase in energy bills
- Warm air blowing from the vent
- Ice formation on the evaporator coil
- Hissing sound from the AC
1. High Energy Bills
When the refrigerant levels are low, it can take too long to lower room temperature to the desired level. Here, the AC fails to match your desired temperature because the evaporator is not adequately absorbing heat from the house.
The AC unit usually shuts off when the optimum temperature is reached. If this temperature is never reached, the AC keeps running constantly. This results in the consumption of more electricity which will be reflected in high energy bills.
2. Warm Air is Blowing from the Vents
Another main low refrigerant symptom is warm air blowing our of your home’s vents instead of the desired cool air.
Before you conclude it’s a problem with the AC unit or request for HVAC repairs, check your thermostat to make sure it’s not set to high temperature.
In most cases, you will experience warm air from your AC when the refrigerant levels are low or if the filter is dirty, making it difficult to push air through the system.
3. Ice Formation on Evaporator Coil
Ice can form on the AC system even in the hottest weather. This is usually caused by a leak, often located along the refrigerant lines. When pressure reduces due to this leakage, it creates the cooling effect that leads to the frozen evaporator coil.
It might be difficult to see the ice, but you might notice water dripping from the vent. That could point to the ice melting. First, you’ll need to shut down the AC unit for the ice to melt. If the freezing continues, it’s time to schedule ac repair services.
4. A Hissing Noise Coming from The AC
If your AC has a leak, you will hear a hissing sound which might be accompanied by a bubbling sound. This is the sound of the refrigerant escaping through the crack.
If the hissing sound lasts for a short time then stops, it may not be a problem at all. It could be coming from the expansion valve. If it is persistent, you should shut down the AC unit swiftly to avoid breathing Freon – the refrigerant. Be sure to call a technician and schedule HVAC maintenance to avoid any unnecessary exposure to Freon.
Call ACHV Today for Assistance with AC Refrigerant
Refrigerant is like the air pressure in your car tires, it only reduces if there’s a leak. So, remember that increasing the amount of refrigerant without fixing the leaks will not help. Be sure to call a professional to fix the leak.
Think your AC might have a refrigerant leak? As a full-service AC Company like ACHV can help you find and fix the concern and get your air conditioning system in working condition.
Check out our special offer by reaching out to our skilled technicians for your air conditioning maintenance needs. Call us at 727-453-2432 or 813-917-2982 and schedule a no-cost consultation today.
