When your air conditioner is running low on freon, the air coming out of it won't be as cold as it should be. To check the temperature of the air leaving the vent, you can use a thermometer. This is an easy way to determine if your air conditioner is low on freon. Sometimes, an air conditioner can be completely empty of refrigerant due to something called “burning points”.
This is another term to describe a fault in a compressor. If your air conditioner's compressor explodes due to an electrical fault, the entire refrigerant supply will be lost. The outdoor unit will expel the oil and waste refrigerant through the bottom of the outdoor condenser. You may hear a loud whistle and see a white cloud if you're in the right place at the right time.
It is important to keep your distance for safety reasons and call a professional to assess the situation. Another common symptom of a low level of freon is a sudden increase in utility bills. Have you noticed that your electricity bill has suddenly skyrocketed? Is it considerably higher than it was at the same time last year? If so, these are indicators of too low freon levels. When your air conditioning unit runs out of freon, it's forced to work much harder to cool your home, and your cycles will last much longer, too. Both of these factors will increase the level of energy your unit consumes, which in turn will greatly increase the energy bill you receive. Most modern air conditioners are designed to cool an individual room over the span of their 15 to 20 minute cycle.
If your air conditioner has frozen, it will eventually defrost and any residual condensation will start to leak out. When air conditioners don't cool down well or stop working completely, it could be due to a problem with the refrigerant. It is helpful to have an experienced, licensed air conditioning professional on the job. If you notice that the temperature and humidity inside rise little by little, you can sometimes detect it early and avoid a more expensive repair. We offer reliable and expert air conditioning and heating repair, installation and advice services to keep you comfortable all year round.
Coolray is your home comfort expert in the Atlanta area and specializes in heating, air conditioning, air quality and plumbing. When an air conditioner is started, it removes much of the moisture, which is why it starts to get much colder inside, since the air conditioner works for longer periods of time. Short cycles refer to an air conditioner that turns on and works for a short period of time, and then shuts off. If you suspect that your air conditioner may be low on freon, there are several ways you can tell for sure. Using a thermometer to measure the temperature of the air coming out of the vent is one way. You can also look for signs such as sudden increases in utility bills or frozen coils on the outdoor unit.
If you're still unsure, contact an experienced professional who can assess your system and determine if there's a problem with your refrigerant levels.
