You don’t have to be an HVAC expert to know something is wrong with your air conditioner. Low refrigerant symptoms can be easy to spot if you know what to look for. Read on to learn about refrigerant, how it works, and how to know if your AC is low on refrigerant.

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How Refrigerant Works

An air conditioner can’t blow cool air without refrigerant. Also known as Freon, refrigerant absorbs indoor air heat, transforming it from a gas into a liquid. A fan then disperses hot air over copper coils, releasing it to the outdoors.

Once the compound cools and transitions back to low-pressure gas, a separate fan blows over the cool coils to expel cold air throughout your home.

5 Signs Your AC is Low on Refrigerant

Recognizing a problem with your refrigerant early on is important to prevent bigger issues down the line, such as an uncomfortable space or high monthly energy bills.

1. Weak or Warm Air Flow

A few common low Freon symptoms include weak air flow or warm air. Low refrigerant can actually cause the evaporator coil to freeze, which can affect air flow. You might also feel warm air flowing from the vents, which is another sign that your refrigerant is low.

2. Ice Buildup on Evaporator Coil

Ice or frost accumulation on your air conditioner isn’t normal and is usually caused by low AC refrigerant. If the refrigerant level drops below normal, the temperature in the unit can drop, resulting in ice and frost formations on the evaporator coil and refrigerant lines.

3. Reduced Cooling Performance

Low refrigerant may restrict your air conditioner’s cooling capacity, causing the system to blow low or weak airflow. If your air conditioner isn’t blowing cool air as usual, take it as a warning sign that it’s time to call a professional.

4. Short Cycling

Is your air conditioner shutting off soon after it turns on? Low refrigerant can cause your AC to short-cycle, which means it turns on and off more frequently than expected. Short-cycling wastes energy, stresses the compressor, and can cause high energy bills. It can also cause the unit to overheat, which can cause an electrical fire.

Any burning smells or strange odors warrant an immediate call to an emergency AC repair technician.

5. Hissing or Bubbling Noises

Your air conditioner should never make hissing or bubbling noises. If it does, the refrigerant may be leaking, which can impact its efficiency and cause further damage if not addressed quickly.

What Can Happen If Your AC Refrigerant Is Low

It’s hard to physically spot a refrigerant leak since the chemical blend evaporates when it leaks out. That said, most people spot ice accumulation as one of the first low refrigerant symptoms. Letting refrigerant leak for long periods can result in costly issues and uncomfortable situations if not dealt with.

Broken Compressor

The compressor is the heart of your air conditioning unit. It raises the temperature and pressure of the vapor refrigerant that disperses through the evaporator coil, which is needed to convert the refrigerant into a hot gas. If the refrigerant leaks, it can cause the compressor to overheat and fail.

Increased Humidity

Even though they aren’t dehumidifiers, air conditioners do help remove humidity from the air. If you’ve noticed uncomfortable humidity levels indoors and you don’t have a dehumidifier, there’s a high likelihood of a refrigerant leak.

Reduced Cooling

A common symptom of low refrigerant is reduced cooling capabilities. If your air conditioner isn’t generating cold air as well as it used to, consider it a sign that your refrigerant level is too low.

High Energy Bills

You may have a refrigerant leak if you haven’t changed your energy usage, but your monthly bills keep increasing. A refrigerant leak can cause your air conditioner to work overtime, leading to frequent cycles. This can affect your energy usage, causing monthly bills to skyrocket.

Let’s Fix Your Low AC Refrigerant

Think you have low refrigerant? You’re probably right. Make air conditioner issues a thing of the past by calling Hunter Super Techs. We offer dependable air conditioner repair and tune-up services in Oklahoma and Northern Texas.

Don’t wait for a minor issue to grow into a big problem—let’s fix your air conditioner today. Call us or book an appointment online.