Adding Coolant to an Air Conditioner

Many home cooling systems develop leaks over time, usually from worn tubing or connections that have come loose, allowing this essential component to escape.

Air conditioning is an essential creature of comfort in the summer. As the heat becomes more intense and the humidity rises, central AC in a home provides welcome relief. But, if the AC isn’t cooling as well as it should, and the home no longer feels like an escape from the sticky weather, the AC may lack coolant.

Freon, the common name for a refrigerant component of an air conditioner, R-22, is necessary to keep cool air circulating throughout a home. The coolant absorbs the heat and processes it through the compressor, returning cool, comfortable air into a home. The central AC doesn’t “run out” of coolant but can lose coolant through a leak somewhere in the cooling system.

Many home cooling systems develop leaks over time, usually from worn tubing or connections that have come loose, allowing this essential component to escape. Gradually, as the system loses coolant, the homeowner will notice warm air blowing from, it may take longer for a home to cool, ice may build up on the exterior lines, and there may be a jump in electric usage.

Coolant recharging – a job for professional

It’s much easier to replace the coolant in a home cooling system than replacing the entire AC, and much more budget-friendly. However, adding coolant to the central cooling system isn’t a job for the DIY homeowner. Anytime a central AC system needs service or repair, the best approach is to hire a licensed, certified air conditioning specialist.  

Replacing coolant may temporarily solve the problem, but until the leak is repaired, it will leak again. For a professional, this is a relatively easy job. A licensed HVAC technician:

• Determines the correct refrigerant for the system. Every system is different, and knowing the compatible and correct refrigerant is necessary to ensure the proper functioning of the AC.

• Wear the proper protective gear. Working with pressurized coolant can be a little risky, even for a professional, so the technician will wear gloves, a mask, and goggles to guard against injury.

• Adds the coolant to the system by determining the appropriate area of the compressor, attaching the valves through which the coolant will draw, and ensuring the compressor is prepared to draw in the coolant.

The common signs of low coolant are warm air coming from vents, low airflow, ice build-up, and higher power bills-could possibly indicate another type of AC issue, and adding coolant won’t fix the problem. It could end up doing more harm than good. Like all refrigerants, Freon is considered a noxious gas and can cause breathing issues.  

Homeowners faced with hot air instead of cool should contact their local HVAC service technician. They can determine the cause of the coolant leak, make the needed repairs, and recharge the system.

The importance of a reliably working AC system cannot be understated. Evenflow Home Services provides reliable AC installation & replacement, AC tune-up and seasonal maintenance, AC repair and maintenance, ductless AC, and air conditioner service. Call or book online.