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When you hear the word refrigerant, what comes to your mind is probably the ozone layer depletion and the phasing out of the dangerous types. An air conditioning unit cannot work at optimum efficiency if one of its components has failed, is insufficient, or faulty. It is like a human body, in which all its parts are essential to survival. The refrigerant is crucial because it is responsible for removing the heat in your home in Spring, TX.
However, other AC issues might arise due to the amount of refrigerant in the system. An overcharged AC system has more than the factory-set limits of the refrigerant, while an undercharged one has lower levels.
The two are problems that will need the attention of a qualified HVAC contractor from a reliable heating and AC repair service company to address.
Avoid Under-or-Overcharging the System
The refrigerant that operates your air conditioning unit should be adequate for optimal efficiency. Both the undercharged and overcharged conditions are bad for the AC unit in your residence.
The compressor can become overcharged after replacing the amount lost due to leaking or banned coolant. The replacement is a crucial process that requires the services of qualified heating and AC repair service providers who understand the factory-set limits of the refrigerant.
A quack HVAC technician can put excess refrigerant in your AC unit, causing more issues. The more coolant in the system will make the suction pressure rise, causing flooded starts of the air conditioner that can damage the system.
Apart from the starting issues, the high pressures and temperatures in the discharge and suction valves will affect the performance of the compressor and the AC equipment, forcing you to make a more costly replacement of the compressor or the AC. Don’t worry because there is a solution to the overcharged system. You will have to hire a heating and AC repair expert to bleed out the excessive amount of the refrigerant to restore its peak performance.
An undercharged AC also impacts the cooling performance of the system. Low refrigerant is a familiar problem with most heating and AC repair professionals in Spring, TX, because of the leakage.
More leaks are in AC units with copper refrigerant lines that make room for the coolant to escape, leading to an undercharged system that cannot cool a house during summer.
The leaking of the coolant can be a slow process that will take time for homeowners to notice, but experienced heating and AC repair service experts will know the issue on the spot during routine tune-ups. An undercharged AC unit provides insufficient cooling air to your space, the evaporator coils freeze, and the compressor overheats and eventually fails.
Knowing the signs of an overcharged or undercharged AC unit is vital in recognizing and solving problems promptly for the comfort of the inhabitants in your residence. Some of the indicators are discussed below.
Signs of an Undercharged System
With a total loss of cooling in the building
When the refrigerant starts to leak, you will not know the difference in its cooling effect. As the leakage continues, you will notice your unit is running, but everyone in your home is uncomfortable because of the low cooling air coming from the air conditioner.
At this point, most folks pick up their phones to call nearby and reliable heating and AC repair providers to come to check out the system because all is not well.
Low condensing pressure
Low refrigerant in the AC unit starves the condensing unit, leading to a lower heat load. The low temperatures in the condenser will result in lower suction pressure that will affect the performance of the AC.
A qualified heating and AC repair service technician will run a diagnostic check to find the root cause of the issue. They will fix it promptly if it’s low refrigerant.
Overheating Compressor
Loss of a significant amount of refrigerant in the AC system causes the compressor to overheat. The overheated compressing unit can trip a circuit breaker of a home due to dangerously high temperatures.
Failure to contact a heating and AC repair service expert on time to make the much-needed replacement of the refrigerant on time, the system will continue to run and break down, which will require costly replacement of the compressor.
Signs of an Overcharged Air Conditioner
Skyrocketing Energy Bills
Homeowners keen on the energy consumption in their households will recognize a surge in utility bills. Higher amounts of the refrigerant in the system use more heat than it is designed to consume.
It leads to higher temperatures and suction pressure, producing less conditioned air. To avert this issue, you should hire a professional heating and AC repair service technician to ensure the amount of coolant replaced after a leakage complies with the factory-set levels.
High Heat Discharge
Extremely high temperatures from the condensing outdoor unit are not easy for you to notice unless you always make rounds close to it and the hot air blows on your feet.
The overworking motors in the compressor, fan, and blower produce high heat. Heating and AC repair service experts in Spring, TX, will identify and diagnose the issue after system check-up when you call for repairs.
Squealing Noise
An overcharged AC produces squealing sounds when too much refrigerant moves into the pressurized air conditioner lines. The squealing noise signifies damages in most moving components of the system that will need costly repair services from an expert.
Once you hear the loud and frightening sound, switch off your AC and call your trusted heating and AC repair service company for emergency services.
Call the HVAC Experts!
Apart from fixing undercharged or overcharged AC units, Mr. Reliable Heating & Air will address all your HVAC needs, including replacements, installation, and maintenance. We train our heating and AC repair service providers to confidently do the job right the first time and offer you quality services for increased customer experience. Drop us a line.