Home owners are going to run into problems with their air conditioning system at some point. ‘Problems’, of course, is a very broad term. An air filter that is too dirty is a problem, but it is one that homeowners can pretty easily resolve by themselves.
Danger of refrigerant leak
A refrigerant leak, on the other hand, is a very serious problem. If home owners have any reason at all to suspect that they have a refrigerant leak, then they absolutely need to schedule professional repairs right away.
Home owners looking for the best air conditioning service should opt for an air conditioner with the ideal amount of refrigerant in the system. It’s just that simple. Low refrigerant levels can cause serious issues, potentially doing irreparable harm to air conditioning systems. And refrigerant is not just something that one can top off, like the gas in the car when it runs low, because it should never run low.
Importance of refrigerant in air conditioner
The whole operation of an air conditioning system hinges upon the refrigerant cycle
It is not an exaggeration to say that the whole operation of an air conditioning system hinges upon the refrigerant cycle. Without refrigerant, an air conditioner simply cannot cool the house. An air conditioner does not generate cooled air out of, well, thin air. No, it removes heat from the air that is already in the home and then redistributes that air back throughout the house. And it does so through the evaporation and condensation of refrigerants.
As the refrigerant evaporates in the indoor evaporator coil, heat is drawn out of the air. That warmed refrigerant then travels outside, where it is condensed, releasing its heat into the air outdoors. This cycle continues until desired temperatures are met throughout the home. It’s a relatively simple process in theory, but a refrigerant leak can bring everything grinding to a halt.
Refrigerant cycle
The refrigerant cycle does not involve the consumption of refrigerants. Instead, the cycle continues over and over again in a closed system. That means that a decreasing level of refrigerant indicates a leak. Why is that such a major problem?
- Low refrigerant levels lead to higher energy costs, as the system must run for longer.
- Eventually, the system can start to short-cycle as it overheats, running in short bursts. This further raises operating costs.
- Additionally, the system is put under a lot of excessive strain. This increases the risk of operational problems.
- Home owners end up paying more money for less cooling, while also covering repair costs that could have been avoided.
- Eventually, the compressor can seize up. At that point, home owners will probably be looking at a whole system replacement.
If an air conditioner keeps developing ice, that it is short cycling, or that its cooling output is decreased, then home owners need to contact Fort Collins Heating and Air Conditioning right away. Home owners should not allow a refrigerant leak to take a serious toll on the home cooling system.
