The air conditioners, just like other machines, can often encounter malfunctions.
Sometimes the damage is physical and easy to detect, but other times, you might need to watch out for specific signs that will give away clues about the internal damage.
The refrigerant plays a crucial part in any AC. It is just like fuel for air conditioners. When there is no fuel, you will face some problems in the system’s normal functioning.
There’s nothing to worry about, as you can easily solve this problem by timely detecting the need for a recharge.
The five most obvious giveaways that your AC is asking for recharge are as follows:
- It runs but doesn’t cool your home.
- The refrigerant line is icy.
- AC adjusts to a different temperature.
- Electricity bills start surprising you.
- The AC starts producing noise.
Call a professional as soon as your AC gives any of these signs.
The first step to getting perfectly functional AC is detecting the issue and then following the right approach to solve it. In this blog, we will dive into both.
5 Signs Your Air Conditioner Needs a Recharge
When your air conditioner is going down in health because of lack of; refrigerant, it gives some signs for you to pick up.
Let’s dig deeper into five such signs:
1. It Runs but Doesn’t Cool Your Home
It’s the last thing you would want your AC to do. It will keep sucking all the current but won’t produce any cooling because it would run low on its “cooling chemical.”
This could happen when there is little to no refrigerant in your AC.
The refrigerant is the part that makes the magic of cold happen, but when it is low in amount, it won’t be able to produce enough cooling.
2. Electric Bills Start Surprising You
When the refrigerant isn’t enough to produce cooling and hit the desired temperature, you will need to keep your AC on for hours and hours.
You will keep it on for more time as opposed to the time you would run it previously.
Eventually, more electricity will is used, and you will start getting higher bills.
On top of it, the damaged AC sucks more current than a properly functioning one. This would raise your bills, leaving you flustered and clueless at the same time.
3. The Refrigerant Line Is Icy
The frozen pipes are the biggest giveaway that your AC needs a refrigerant recharge.
When you see the frozen refrigerant line or ice forming on any specific part of the line, you must prioritize recharging your system at the first opportunity you get.
When the refrigerant starts to leak out from the cooling chamber of the system, it starts to condense there due to the temperature difference between the inside and outside air.
The condensed air then turns into ice when the temperature drops further.
4. AC Adjusts to a Different Temperature
In Winter, you will need a higher room temperature. The thermostat is the main component of any AC responsible for regulating temperature change.
When the refrigerant level is low, the performance of the thermostats is also likely to get affected. It becomes faulty and sets itself for an even higher temperature than you had set.
For instance, you have set your AC to 30 degree Celsius, but it regulates the temperature of your room and caps it at 40 degrees.
It means that thermostats need reconditioning, which is also an indicator of a refrigerant leak.
5. The AC Starts Producing a Noise
When your AC starts producing noisy hissing or bubbling sounds, it hints at the underlying problem with the refrigerant level.
The leakage of the cooling chemical forms a pressure gradient in your AC that causes it to leak out, and as it leaks out of the pipe with high pressure, you hear a hissing sound.
When you hear these sounds, check whether the refrigerant is leaking. If it is, get it fixed; if not, look into other possible problems that your system may have encountered.
How To Recharge the AC
First, here’s what not to do. Don’t stress. Take a deep breath and know that you’ve got this. It’s not something beyond your capabilities.
Next, follow the following tips to inspect, check, and repair your AC. All these can also be done professionally when you avail of the services of the AC repair companies.
1. Start With the Inspection
Start your process with a proper inspection of the AC system of your house.
Fans are the first thing you would want to check. Turn your AC on and stand in front of it placing your hand in front of the part from where it blows air out. If you don’t feel the air is cold, there might be a problem.
2. DIY AC Repair
Next, you can check individual parts separately to rule out their damage. You will also want to take the filters out and clean them.
This mini-service will ensure the performance of each part and will also solve if the issue is minor. The minor issues include abnormal placement of each component, dirty filters, or any physical hindrance.
3. Call an AC Repair Professional
You must ask for major service when nothing goes right, even after a mini repair. Call your nearest AC repair professionals and get it checked by them. You can hire them on an hourly, per-day, or per-project basis.
Takeaway
AC recharge refers to the refill of the refrigerant of your AC. Every AC comes with a definite amount of this cooling chemical. If it starts to leak, it interferes with the expected performance and efficiency of the system.
Therefore, you should always be on the lookout for signs that hint at its leakage. Some of them include a frosty refrigerant line, hissing sounds from the AC, insanely high electricity bills, and improper temperature regulation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Often Should I Recharge My AC?
It will help if you recharge your air conditioner at least once every three to five years for optimum performance.
