Keeping your refrigerant at an optimum level in your Fayetteville, North Carolina home is vital to ensuring that your air conditioning system is running efficiently and effectively cooling your home. The problem is that most homeowners don’t know when their refrigerant level is low or how to check it. If you experience any of the three signs listed below, your refrigerant level may have dipped too low, and it is time to have it checked by an HVAC specialist.
The Air Coming Out of The Vents is Not Cool
Does it seem to take forever to cool down your home? When you put your hand by the vents, is it warmer than usual? These can be signs that your refrigerant may need to be topped off. When the refrigerant in your system is lower than it should be, heat becomes trapped in its cooling chamber. When this happens, the system will have a harder time cooling down the air in your home. Since it can’t keep the air in the cooling chamber for longer, it simply sends out less air. The less cool air that goes out, the less able it is to achieve the desired temperature.
Your Energy Bills Are Higher
If your air conditioning unit is unable to provide enough cool air to maintain the ideal temperature, it will begin working harder than it should to try to keep up. The harder your AC unit works, the more energy the unit will use, which can cause your energy bills to climb. High energy bills can signal a lot of problems including problems with refrigerant, so when this occurs, you should call an HVAC specialist to determine the problem.
There is Ice on Your Outside Unit
If the refrigerant levels are not ideal, your evaporator coil can become too cold. As the temperature of the evaporator coil drops, it can begin to form ice on the coils of your outside unit.
Don’t let a small problem become a major one. If you notice any of the signs above, it is time to call Cape Fear Air, Electric, & Plumbing at 910-216-9394 to have your refrigerant levels checked.
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