HVAC Freon: What to Do if Low in My Air Conditioner?

By: Brian Schutt  |  August 15, 2023

Up to date Summer time 2023

Freon (R22) has been phased out of being manufactured since 2010, and at last banned in 2020. Air Conditioning Techniques are nonetheless functioning with the identical rules of warmth switch, however now use primarily R410a refrigerant (in residential HVAC methods) Whereas the freon reference on this publish is dated, the method remains to be legitimate and worthwhile for householders researching low refrigerant of their A/C. 

As we ultimately get into spring and summer season, and air conditioners throughout Indiana once more get fired up we’ll get tons of of telephone calls from clients whose A/C’s gained’t sustain. A quite common analysis for air conditioners that may’t sustain is low refrigeration. Earlier than you give the go-ahead to your HVAC skilled to “cost” the system, which is the time period used to refill to the suitable degree, there are some things it’s worthwhile to find out about HVAC Freon.

1) Know what sort of refrigerant your air conditioner or warmth pump makes use of and the way low it’s

R22 which is often often called freon was essentially the most distinguished refrigerant in use till a couple of years in the past when the EPA mandated manufacturing be stopped. In it’s place R410a (Puron) refrigerant has taken over as the first refrigeration used. As soon as you recognize the kind, the HVAC skilled ought to have the ability to give not less than a variety of estimate on how the system is on refrigerant.

2) Why is my HVAC Freon refrigerant low?

Air conditioners and warmth pumps are closed loops methods. Not like fuel in your automotive, refrigeration doesn’t simply disappear over time. In case your system is low inflicting an absence of cooling, there’s possible a leak within the system.

3) Ought to I leak check or not?

Realizing that your system has a leak, there are two methods to go about repairing. In case you’ve by no means had the refrigerant recharged in your system, you are able to do so and not using a leak check. Relying on the age and situation of your air con, your system may need a sluggish leak which might be able to maintain the brand new refrigerant. Nevertheless, in case you’ve already had refrigerant added up to now or are involved that the leak is extra vital, a leak check is required earlier than including any extra refrigerant.

4) What sort of leak check will probably be finished?

Everybody has their opinion on which leak check is the perfect, however many instances the technician on web site will provide up an opinion on which he thinks will determine your challenge in essentially the most value efficient manner. There are gadgets that detect refrigerant that’s out of the system, {that a} technician can run alongside joints and coils of the A/C system. We are able to evacuation the system and put it underneath excessive strain nitrogen check, the place the joints, coils and different drawback areas are coated in cleaning soap bubbles to detect air leakage. There are extra assessments outlined by the EPA right here, which meet their excessive requirements. The underside line is that your HVAC skilled ought to element the kind of check and price earlier than continuing.

5) The place’s the HVAC Freon leak and the way a lot is the restore?

Relying on what the leak check reveals there are actually two distinct instructions. It’s possible a simple repair in a visual joint or valve that may shortly be repaired, or it’s one thing extra vital within the evaporator or condenser coil. The previous due to the restricted expense is a simple go-ahead if it’s an R410a system. In case you are coping with a coil and an R22 system, it is best to most likely talk about alternative of the complete system due to the numerous expense of each the gear and refrigerant.

Want Your Freon Ranges Checked or A/C Changed?