Every component of your heating and cooling system is critical to the equipment’s best performance and efficiency. Your air conditioner requires refrigerant to chill your living areas adequately. Refrigerant aids the unit in producing the cold air that flows around your house through the air conditioner.
This article briefly explains what A/C refrigerant is, how it works, and whether you have refrigerant leaks.
What Is Air Conditioner Refrigerant?
The refrigerant used in air conditioners can either be in a gaseous or liquid state. This component of your cooling system is critical to its performance since it collects heat from your living rooms. It then turns the heated air into the cold air as it travels to various sections of your air conditioner.
Several refrigerants are used in air conditioning systems, but the most prevalent are Freon, or R-22, and Puron or R-410A. For many years, Freon was the primary refrigerant in central air conditioning systems. On the other hand, Puron is now the most popular alternative for current air conditioning systems since it is more ecologically benign than Freon.
How Does Refrigerant Work?
Your air conditioner’s copper coils contain the refrigerant. It circulates through the various components of your cooling system, converting low-pressure gas to a high-pressure liquid. During this cycle, it absorbs and releases heat as it goes through the system. This helps assist in the circulation of conditioned air to the inside of your house. It moves to the outside unit, losing heat via condensation, pushing it to cool down.
When the refrigerant reaches the inside unit, it causes evaporation this lowers temperatures by absorbing the warm air inside. This cycle enables your air conditioner to create cool air through your vents.
How Can You Tell If You Have an AC Refrigerant Leak?
Here are a few ways to know you have an AC refrigerant leak:
1. Increasing energy bills.
Increased energy expenditures are often indicative of a refrigerant leak in the air conditioner. This is also a frequent sign that your equipment is working harder to satisfy your cooling needs. The loss of refrigerant will not only force your AC to work harder, but it will also put pressure on the system, potentially reducing its lifetime.
2. Your air conditioner is blowing warm air.
A refrigerant leak is frequently found in an air conditioner that blows warm air. If your air conditioner blows warm air out of its vents, it might be due to a refrigerant leak or a low refrigerant pressure.
3. Your air conditioner is making louder sounds than usual.
A noisy air conditioning system is another sign of a refrigerant leak. If your air conditioner produces gurgling noises or other sounds that are not normal, it might be due to malfunctioning equipment or a refrigerant leak.
Conclusion
If you observe any sign of AC refrigerant leak with your unit, it is advisable to contact an HVAC specialist to get it fixed for you. An attempt to do it yourself can result in damage to other components. We are one of many reputable HVAC repair experts in Tampa, FL, so give us a call to get the job done the right way.