AC Repair 101: What to Do When Freon Levels Drop and Cooling Stops
AC Repair: In Arizona, especially with the extreme heat from the summer months, your air conditioner works hard to keep your home cold. We cool our bodies, so we can tolerate the heat— but when a cooling device stops working inside our home — you are going to be miserable. Low levels of Freon are one of the most frequent causes. This magic cooling agent is the reason your AC works at all, and when it runs out, so goes the operation of the system. This article will cover what Freon is, why it’s so important for your AC to have enough of it, how you can tell if yours could be running low, and what steps are recommended.
Why is Freon Necessary?
Freon, or refrigerant, is the chemical that needs to be present in your air conditioner unit for it to cool. By taking the heat out of your home and moving it outside, an air conditioner can provide cool relief. If your unit doesn’t have the proper levels of Freon, then it can no longer cool down your home efficiently (which means higher energy bills for you and possible harm to one or more components in your AC.)
5 Signs Your Freon Is Low
But, how do you know when your Freon levels are low? Common Signs That You Need to Recharge Your AC
Warm Air from Vents: If you’re getting warm air out of your vents when you should be blasting the AC, it might mean that low Freon is on the prowl.
Hissing or Bubbling Noises: Hissing or bubbling coming from your AC unit can be early signs of a refrigerant leak which will result in low Freon levels later on.
Icing On the Refrigerant Lines: If ice appears in some regions around the refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil, it probably means that your air conditioning is running low on Freon.
High Energy Bills: One of the telltale signs that your Freon levels are low is higher than normal energy bills because when lowered on refrigerant, you burn more fuel to cool homes.
Cooling Cycles Have Gotten Long: A sure sign that your AC is gasping for breath because it lacks enough Freon if you notice cooling cycles taking too long to do their job.
AC Repair: What to do when your Freon is low
It is important to have that addressed as soon as possible if you believe your Freon levels are low. Here’s what you should do:
- Turn Off Your AC
If you have a Freon leak and continue running your AC, the compressor may overheat due to excessive strain. To prevent further damage, turn off your system immediately.
- Have a Specialist Check the Home
Low refrigerant levels normally indicate a leak in the system. A professional AC repair company can check your unit and see what type of leak it is if any. Here in Gilbert, AZ and the surrounding area Olive Air & Heating is here to help with this task. We will inspect your system and source the leak so we can recharge your Freon levels to get your AC working at peak performance.
- Don’t Attempt DIY Repairs
It is tempting to contact refrigerant manufacturers and try solving the problem yourself, but handling Freon requires knowledge. A regulated substance, Freon in an air conditioning unit? Certified professionals should be the only ones who touch it, at least to maintain safety and comply with local regulations.
- Upgrade Your AC System
If you have an older AC unit that is relatively Freon-happy, now might be a good time to start considering upgrading to something more modern and efficient. With improved system components that prevent leaks and the advent of more environmentally friendly refrigerants, modern AC units run efficiently without any worries.
Avoiding Freon Leaks and AC Efficiency
Ensuring that your system can provide you with high performance should start at the outset; keeping Freon from leaking and regular maintenance go hand in hand. To take the most out of the gears you have, follow these tips that will keep your AC running so well.
Maintenance Every Year: No matter what, make sure you get maintenance done every year with a dependable company for AC repair in Gilbert AZ like Olive Air Conditioning. Technicians will then check the Freon levels, visually inspect for leaks, and replace parts as needed to keep your system in good repair.
Clean Your AC — Dirt and debris can collect on your coils, causing efficiency problems and sometimes even damage that results in Freon leaks. This will occur if your coils and several other components are not cleaned regularly.
Similarly, do not rely heavily on your AC and simply set to thermostat down a few degrees — instead try keeping it at 74 or above while using fans around the house for air circulation. This eases the pressure off of your system, ensuring there are fewer leaks.
Purchase a Leak Detector: If you want that extra bit of reassurance, look into setting up an automatic refrigerant leak detector. Those devices can tell you when something comes up before it becomes a big deal so that you can address it in time.
Freon Leaks Have a Huge Environmental Footprint
Keep in mind that not only is Freon vital to your AC working correctly, but it also has an environmental price. Freon is a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) that can harm the ozone layer and it has a global warming potential of 1200 to boot. It is for this reason that the use and leakage of Freon needs careful handling.
More recently, new AC systems are using different cooling agents – like R-410A refrigerant in an air conditioner unit that is much kinder to the environment than Freon RTCT. If you have a system that uses Freon and has more than one leak, it is likely time to upgrade anyway as new systems no longer use environmentally harmful refrigerants.
Conclusion
Having low Freon levels in your AC system during the scorching hot Arizona summers…Your Worst nightmare! Know the signs of low Freon, act as soon as possible, and Call Your Local AC Repair Company … you will have your system up in no time! Whether you are in Gilbert, Tempe, San Tan Valley, Queen Creek or all over Phoenix, AZ Olive Air & Heating will always be here for quick AC repair services. Our mission is to provide great customer service while assuring your home continues to remain cool and comfortable.
Olive Cares: Supporting Those in Need
We were pleased to assist with AC repairs, but we understand that not everyone has the resources to fix their cooling systems when they break down. That’s why we created the Olive Care program, which offers free AC repairs and maintenance to those who might otherwise struggle to afford these essential services.
We invite you to nominate someone in Phoenix, AZ or the surrounding areas who could benefit from this program. Let’s come together to ensure everyone stays cool, especially during the intense Arizona heat!
Learn More: Olive Care Program
AC Leak? Our Team is Ready to assist!
When you need AC repair in Gilbert, don’t let the heat slow you down—just reach out to us and we’ll be there!
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