Low Refrigerant or Low Freon in Your AC?
Air conditioning can feel a little like magic, especially in the brutal Tampa summer. It’s not wizardry, however; it’s refrigerant. The refrigerant changes temperature as part of the air conditioning process. It allows you to transfer heat out of your home, leaving cooler temperatures behind.
If you have a refrigerant leak, you’ll notice that the system no longer works as it should. With this information, you will have a better understanding of the problem and know when to call for the AC repair Tampa prefers.
How to Tell You Need Refrigerant Recharge
Unlike other parts of your AC system, you might not know that the refrigerant is in trouble at the beginning. It’s not a large component, and it doesn’t make a lot of noise when it gets low. Leaky refrigerant is a big deal, though, because it is toxic. It’s important to schedule repairs when you observe:
- Your home isn’t cool enough, even when the AC is on
- The AC turns on, but only warm air comes out
- The exterior unit literally freezes up, with ice accumulating on the outside
If the leak is really obvious or located in several places on the line, you may notice oil stains around your outside unit or even a hissing sound during operation.
What you do with this information is up to you, but you should keep your investment in mind. Issues like low refrigerant or low freon in your system require a experienced technician to identify and correct, but it’s better to do them sooner than later.
The Risks of DIY AC Repairs and the Importance of Professional Inspections
The last thing you may want to do is deal with repairs when your air conditioning system isn’t working well. However, DIY presents its own concerns. Buying a recharge kit at the store costs less, but requires you to know which kind of refrigerant you have. If your system still uses the obsolete R-22, also known as freon, you won’t be able to get it just anywhere, as it has been phased out in many areas. Learn more about R-22 refrigerant phasing out from our blog post. Of course, you still have to handle the fact that refrigerant can be dangerous, and you could ruin your system if you try to do it alone. Mishandling refrigerant can not only damage your AC unit but also pose serious health risks to you and others nearby.
Lots of homeowners realize that if they ignore a problem, it can get much worse. You may know where one leak is, but that’s no guarantee that it is the only one. Not all repair jobs are simple, and untreated issues can compound, leading to more expensive repairs down the road. Problems that become crises can take a project that might have cost hundreds and turn it into a replacement job that runs into the thousands. It’s best to start with a professional inspection, as a trained technician can detect hidden issues before they escalate.
Trust AC Repair in Tampa
For all things AC repair in Tampa, you can count on Gulf Coast Air Systems to fix the problem. Give us a call at 813-689-2082 today or fill out our contact us form below to request a quality AC repair, maintenance, and replacement services.
