How can you tell when your air conditioner is running low on refrigerant? In this article, we discuss the 6 tell-tale signs that spell low refrigerant levels in an AC system — and what you need to do to ensure your air conditioner stays performing properly.
Low Refrigerant Symptoms: 6 Signs to Watch Out For
- Your AC is blowing hot air – In order for an aircon to produce cool air, it needs a consistent supply of refrigerant. So if you’re experiencing little to no cool air with your unit, there’s a good chance that the AC system’s refrigerant levels are already running low.
- The refrigerant line already has ice in it – Low refrigerant levels in an AC system can also manifest in the form of ice formations in the refrigerant line. When the evaporator coil begins freezing, cold liquid refrigerant starts flowing through the refrigerant line, causing the moisture in the air to freeze.
- You start hearing a hissing or bubbling sound – The refrigerant lines contain a lot of pressure that in the event of a large leak, a collection of hissing or bubbling sounds will immediately follow suit. When it comes to a leakage like this, it’s almost a clear-cut sign that your AC system is already running low on refrigerant levels.
- Increase in humidity and moisture – Humidity extraction is one of the important tasks that an AC system performs in order to deliver cool and comfortable air. When the refrigerant charge drops in the system, this directly affects the evaporator coil and makes it unable to condense water vapor properly and effectively. Combined with an increase in indoor humidity, the unit has a much harder time to keep up with the task and as a result, humidity and moisture in the room increases significantly.
- Longer AC cooling cycles – When your system is low on refrigerant, it can also manifest in longer cooling cycles. This happens when the air being pushed inside your home is warmer than it should be, resulting in the AC running longer cycles just to reach the desired temperature your thermostat is set to.
- Higher energy and electricity bills – Longer cooling cycles in an AC system result in the unit performing far beyond its normal capacity. This contributes to longer cooling times and aircon usage, leading to a huge increase in your monthly electricity bills. Make sure to keep an eye on your energy usage and make the necessary observations to determine whether this is directly related to low refrigerant levels.
What to Do With Low Air Conditioning Refrigerant Levels?
If you’re experiencing any of these signs, it’s best to call a professional aircon servicing company right away for a gas and refrigerant top-up. For fast, easy and convenient aircon maintenance, repair and check-ups, give us a call here at Fresh Air Sdn.Bhd.! Contact any of our friendly aircon operators today to book an appointment!
