When the summertime temperatures begin to soar throughout Missouri, you’ll need to run your air conditioner more often. During the hottest weeks of the year, it will run much longer than during milder weather. While that’s perfectly normal, some long cooling periods could signal an underlying problem.
One of the most severe issues is a lack of refrigerant. Air conditioners use refrigerant in a closed-loop system, so the amount of refrigerant in your system shouldn’t decrease. Unlike vehicles that use gas or fuel-burning fireplaces, you can’t “run out” of refrigerant. A lack of refrigerant is a surefire sign that there’s a leak in your system. We’ll review the signs that your air conditioner needs more refrigerant and discuss overall AC repairs.
Contact First Mate Heating & Cooling for expert HVAC repair in Missouri now.
What Is Refrigerant?
Refrigerant refers to a class of chemical that we use to transfer heat from one area to another. Air conditioning systems have used various refrigerants over the years. You may have heard of Freon, for example. This name covers a few different chemicals. One of the most common types of Freon you may see is R-410A.
As we discover the impact of some refrigerants on the environment, environmental regulations require us to find more eco-friendly alternatives. R-410A has high global warming potential, and older alternatives often contributed to damaging the ozone layer. Existing systems can still use it, but manufacturers no longer produce it, and new systems have transitioned to other types of refrigerant. These newer formulas don’t damage the ozone layer, and they contribute less to climate change.
As R-410A phases out, though, it makes it harder to find for existing systems. As it becomes harder to find, the cost goes up, which can make recharging your system more expensive than before. A technician can help you spot a leak during a maintenance session, but leaks can spring up between inspections, too. Whether you have an AC that uses an older refrigerant or a brand-new system, you’ll need to stay alert for signs of a leak.
How Do Air Conditioners Use Refrigerant?
Air conditioners use refrigerant to remove heat from your indoor air. Your HVAC system takes in air from your home and then passes it over coils in your indoor unit. After the refrigerant in those coils pulls heat from the air to make it colder, your AC pushes that air back into your home.
Meanwhile, the refrigerant passes on to your system’s outdoor unit, where it expels the heat it takes from your indoor air. As it does so, the refrigerant cools down and returns into your home to start the process all over again.
Manufacturers design each air conditioner to work with a specific amount of refrigerant. If your system springs a leak, or there’s an issue with charging your system’s refrigerant in the first place, your AC will have to use less refrigerant to do the same job. As it does, it’ll lose efficiency, and wear and tear will occur faster than it should. That’s what makes it particularly important to keep an eye out for signs of a refrigerant leak, such as the ones below.
Weak Airflow
Your cooling system shouldn’t need to struggle to put out air. Even if the air isn’t at your ideal temperature, your system should continue circulating it as normal. If you notice the air coming out of your vents is weaker than normal, it’s a sign that something is wrong.
The problem could have a variety of causes, from dirty filters to a leak in your ductwork. It can also point toward a lack of refrigerant. If you change your filter and still see airflow issues, it’s time to call a professional to diagnose the issue.
Warm Air
If air comes out of your vents as normal, it doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. The air should still be cooler than your home’s ambient temperature. If there’s barely a difference, or worse, if the air is warm, refrigerant could be the issue.
When your AC runs, the refrigerant inside absorbs heat from the air inside your home. It then takes that heat and expels it outside while circulating the cooled air indoors. With a refrigerant leak, your AC must use less refrigerant to do the same amount of work as normal. It may struggle, making the air from your vents warm.
Frozen Coils
The coils on your outdoor unit help disperse the heat absorbed by your AC’s refrigerant. Coil cleaning helps keep them in top condition to put out that heat efficiently. However, a lack of refrigerant can also manifest in your coils freezing altogether. Even when they are clean, frozen coils struggle to disperse heat. This can force your AC work even harder to make up for both the lack of refrigerant and the coil issues.
If your cooling equipment frosts or freezes over once, it might not indicate a major issue. You can usually turn your system off or unplug it to thaw it out. If the issue occurs again after that, though, you need to call in a professional like First Mate Heating & Cooling to diagnose the problem.
Rising Energy Bills
All the problems above make your air conditioning work harder than it normally should. This doesn’t just strain the parts and contribute to added wear and tear; it also uses more energy. This can be a difficult situation to analyze. As temperatures rise, you’ll naturally see your energy usage also go up. Once the summer temps hold steady, though, keep an eye on your bills.
If you don’t change your AC settings, but your bill continues to rise, it’s a surefire sign that something is amiss. Change your filter and clear the outdoor unit of debris or other blockages. Similarly, make sure your vents are unobstructed. If your bills continue to spike, the rising cost points to an internal problem, which could be a lack of refrigerant.
Schedule Professional AC Repair Service Today
AC problems can stem from a variety of issues, and it can be hard to tell the difference between them. You can keep your outdoor unit clear and make sure your system’s filter is clean, but identifying a refrigerant leak takes the trained eye of an HVAC technician. When you notice any of the signs above, contact First Mate Heating & Cooling to schedule professional AC repair in Missouri.
