Why Is Undercharging Bad for Your Air Conditioner?

AC refrigerant changes from liquid to gas to absorb and release heat. Through this process, the warmth from inside your house is removed and your living space is cooled down. However, certain things may not fall into place as they should if your unit is undercharged, which might prompt you to call for an air conditioner repair. Here we explain more about undercharged ACs.

What Happens if the Refrigerant Is Low?

It should be noted that low refrigerant usually occurs due to leaks along the line or in the compressor. Since it’s likely you won’t notice anything dripping from your unit because the refrigerant evaporates as it leaks out, you’ll probably see frost forming over the indoor coils first. This is because a low level of refrigerant won’t be enough to warm up the evaporator coil, and when this happens, the remaining refrigerant will be too cold, prompting moisture to freeze on the coil.

Why Is This a Concern?

Low refrigerant levels affect your system’s cooling ability, as well as your home’s air quality. This may lead to more breakdowns and even premature failure. If you notice a rise in indoor humidity, a drop in cooling ability or a frozen evaporator coil, call a professional immediately.

Remember that the only way to avoid spending money on repairs or installing a new system is to have yours regularly inspected and recharged by a trusted air conditioning technician. Moreover, given that refrigerant is a harmful substance, licensed technicians should be the ones to do the job of first sealing up leaks in the unit’s refrigerant lines and then restoring the lost refrigerant to the system.

Contact Cooper Brothers, Inc. to start your HVAC partnership today. Our high-quality solutions and reliable air conditioner replacement technicians will leave you feeling confident that your HVAC problems will be resolved. Call our experts at (408) 662-1538 to schedule an appointment or submit an online form to get started.