Does it take ages before you can feel indoor temperatures coming down even with the air conditioner on? If you’ve changed your air filters recently and the temperature is at the correct setting, then chances are your aircon could be running low on refrigerant. The refrigerant is the chemical that is responsible for absorbing heat from hot air that is sucked in by your air conditioner. The absorbed heat expands and is then compressed by the compressor in the air-conditioning unit to be reused.
Most air conditioning systems will display signs of low refrigerant levels many days or even months before it dries out completely. Wondering how you can identify these issues early on? Coldway Aircon is a leading provider of aircon servicing in Singapore and this article shares how you can determine if your aircon is operating with low refrigerant levels.
Longer time to cool your home
Refrigerant is critical for collecting ambient heat indoors and releasing it outside. When there are low levels of refrigerant in your air conditioner, heat that’s ventilated through the system isn’t able to be absorbed as efficiently. This makes it more difficult for the air conditioner to properly transfer higher quantities of cool air into a home. To find out whether this is the reason your air conditioner is not functioning at optimal levels, hold your hand up to your air vents. If it feels much warmer than it should, it could be an indication of a refrigerant problem.
Learn more: 4 Signs Your Aircon Needs Servicing
Higher energy bills
Without sufficient refrigerant in the system, your air conditioner cannot get rid of heat to cool your home during each cooling cycle. This means your aircon will need to run longer and work harder to cool down your home, resulting in higher energy bills.
Comparing your electric bills month-to-month and year-to-year can help with identifying issues with your air conditioning unit. If you experience a sudden spike in electricity costs, it's best to engage the services of a professional aircon servicing company to have a look early on and rectify the problem.
Frost or ice on refrigerant lines
Aircon repair professionals typically recommend consumers physically inspect their outdoor aircon units every once in a while, and with good reason. Should you inspect the outdoor unit and see ice forming on the refrigerant lines, there’s a good chance that refrigerant levels are already at the lowest point. When refrigerant levels are low, it causes the temperature of the refrigerant to drop further than the aircon was designed for. This is a definite cue for you to contact a reliable aircon servicing company for an inspection and probably have the refrigerant recharged.
A hissing or bubbling noise emitting from your aircon
If you notice any noises from your air conditioner that sounds out of the ordinary such as a hissing or bubbling sound, chances are you are experiencing a refrigerant leak. A hissing or bubbling noise usually indicates a refrigerant leak in the air conditioning system requiring aircon repairs. Bear in mind that refrigerant is toxic, so it’s best advised to engage a professional aircon technician to have a look.
Low refrigerant levels in your aircon could cause it to be an ineffective and energy-hungry system leading to higher electric bills, and if left unresolved, may even result in costly repairs. We hope this article has provided useful information on what to take note of to avoid further damage to your system, and your pockets.
Got more questions? Coldway Aircon are specialists in aircon repairs, aircon chemical wash services and more - reach out to our team to discover the best solutions for your air conditioning systems today!