Refrigerant is an integral part of your air conditioner. As the weather warms up in Fayetteville, North Carolina, you will want to make sure your AC is running in top condition. If you notice any of the three signs below, your refrigerant is probably low and needs recharging so that your air conditioner can run efficiently.
Rising Energy Bills
Your air conditioning system consists of an inside unit and an outside one. There is a line filled with a fluid called refrigerant. The fluid travels into your home where it absorbs heat and then transfers the heat outside. The refrigerant then flows back inside, absorbs heat, and releases it outside in a continuous loop. If the refrigerant is low, it can’t absorb enough heat, and the air conditioner has to work harder to try to cool the house down. If you notice your energy bills are creeping up, call us so we can check the refrigerant level.
Ice on the Outside Unit
The only reason the refrigerant levels would be low is if there is a leak. One sign of a leak is ice on the outside unit of your air conditioner. If the refrigerant gets too low, the pressure and temperature in the lines drop, freezing the evaporator coil. Once the coil is frozen, the refrigerant can no longer flow, and ice begins to build on the outside of the unit.
Hissing or Bubbling Noises
There is a lot of pressure within the refrigerant line, and if there is a leak, you will notice a hissing or bubbling sound. Hissing and bubbling is not a good sign, and we need to fix it as soon as possible. Keep in mind that our technicians are specially trained in the safe handling of refrigerant, so resolving any issues with the fluid needs to be handled by our certified team.
If you notice these signs, give us a call at Cape Fear Air, Electric, & Plumbing at 910-216-9394 to inspect and maintain your air conditioner.
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