One of the most common issues we come across during the summer is low refrigerant in air conditioners. Refrigerant, also called Freon, helps absorb heat from your home. It then travels through your system to release the heat outside. If your AC is low on refrigerant, you’ll start to see all kinds of problems, and your home won’t feel comfortable during hot days anymore.
But here’s the thing: air conditioners don’t “use up” Freon. If your Freon is low, it’s because there’s a leak that needs to be fixed. Here’s how your HVAC contractor will check Freon and refrigerant levels.
How Morris-Jenkins Checks Freon and Refrigerant Levels
Checking your refrigerant levels is a tricky process. It’s not as simple as reading a gauge on the side of your AC unit! Before we can even start, we have to inspect a few things.
Our Freon Checking Process
To start off, your tech will make sure your home has proper air flow. That means they’re looking at your filters, blower wheel, and indoor coil to see if they’re all clean. They’ll also check the static pressure inside the system. After that, they’ll inspect your duct system’s size by doing a few calculations.
Next, our skilled team will figure out what metering device your air conditioner has. We’ve also gotta check the indoor humidity, outdoor humidity, and outdoor ambient temperature with a psychrometer. Once we’ve got all this information, we can use a special formula to figure out the correct superheat your AC should have based on what kind of metering device it has.
We’ll connect their gauges and read the pressures and temperatures of your AC. Using those, we’ll complete the calculations to find out if your system has enough Freon or not.
What is Freon?
Freon, also called R-22, is a type of refrigerant used in older air conditioners. It absorbs heat from inside your home and releases it outside, helping keep your place cool. It works by circulating through your air conditioning system, changing from a gas to a liquid and back again as it moves heat out of your home.
Freon plays a key role in the cooling cycle by transferring heat through a process of compression and evaporation. Without it, your air conditioner wouldn’t be able to produce the cool air you rely on during warm weather!
2020 Freon Phase Out
If your air conditioning system uses Freon, it’s probably been around for a while. Freon was phased out in 2020, so it’s not being produced in the US anymore. This can make it difficult to find and more expensive to replace if your system ever develops a leak or needs a recharge. If you’re noticing issues with your cooling or just wanna plan ahead, it might be a good time to have your system checked. We can help you understand what kind of refrigerant your system uses and talk through whether it’s better to repair or start thinking about a more modern option for your home.
Signs You Might be Low on Freon
While there’s no way to know for sure without having a technician check, there are a few ways you can find out if Freon levels are a likely problem in your home.
High Electricity Bills
When it’s costing your family more than usual to try to keep the house comfortable, that could be a red flag. When your AC is low on Freon, it can’t work as efficiently, and that means it uses more energy just trying to keep up with demands. This can get expensive!
Buildup of Ice on the Refrigerant Line or Evaporator Coil
Low Freon levels create lower pressure in your air conditioning system. That causes the AC’s temperature to drop, which allows ice to build up on your evaporator coil. If you notice ice on your system, use your thermostat to turn the system off before your Morris-Jenkins tech arrives. This allows the ice to melt so our technicians can access all the parts they need.
Your AC Takes Longer to Cool Your Home
Your air conditioner uses refrigerant to help it absorb and remove heat from your home. If it doesn’t have enough refrigerant, it’s gonna take longer just to remove that same amount of heat.
Warm Air is Blowing Out of the Vents
If you put your hand up to any of the air vents in your home and feel warm air coming out, something isn’t right. Your air conditioner isn’t producing cool air, and that might be because it doesn’t have enough refrigerant to get the job done.
High Humidity and Sticky Air
Your AC’s main job isn’t to cool the air—it’s to remove humidity from the air! In turn, that helps cool your home. If your house is feeling muggy, there’s a good chance your Freon is low, which means your air conditioner is gonna have a hard time pulling moisture from the air.
What to Do if Your Air Conditioner is Low on Freon
If our heating and air conditioning techs discover that your HVAC system is low on Freon, you might have a couple of choices: refilling the Freon or replacing the system.
Refilling Freon
As we mentioned earlier, Freon was phased out in 2020. This means that if your system is low on Freon, refilling it will be pretty pricey. Since new R-22 isn’t being made anymore, the only available supply comes from recycled or recovered sources, which drives up the cost. On top of that, if your system is leaking Freon, simply refilling it won’t fix the root problem—you’ll also need to patch the leak, wherever it might be.
Replacing Your Air Conditioner
The other option is replacing the air conditioner with a newer model. Not only will this solve the leaking refrigerant problem, but it’ll also get you up to date on the newest technology and energy efficiency standards. This is a higher upfront cost than refilling the Freon, but when you take all the other factors into account, like repair costs, energy savings, and long-term reliability, replacement often ends up being the more cost-effective choice. Plus, newer systems typically come with warranties and require less maintenance, giving you greater peace of mind.
Morris-Jenkins Can Help!
Whether you ultimately choose air conditioning repair or replacement, we’ll be there to give you the solutions you need! From your first appointment with us to when we apply the finishing touches, we’ll be there the whole time with answers and solutions! Give us a call today for AC services in the Charlotte area.
Priority Advantage® Memberships Make it Easy to Get the Service You Need!
We get it; air conditioners are overwhelming. They use complex terms, complicated mechanisms, and require regular maintenance to keep running smoothly. But do you wanna make it easier? Become a Priority Advantage® Member!
When you enroll in our Priority Advantage® membership, you’ll get heating and cooling maintenance covered as part of your membership. And if you ever do need repairs, you get a 10% discount, as well as tons of other great perks.
All that sound good? We think so too! Give us a call today to learn more or to enroll!
Contact Morris-Jenkins for Charlotte AC Services
We know it can be tricky to find an air conditioning company in Charlotte, NC. You need one that treats you the way you deserve! Mr. Jenkins told me to treat you like family, and that’s exactly what we do. At Morris-Jenkins, we show up on time, speak in plain language, and always recommend what’s best for you while providing the highest-quality service.
Call now or schedule online to experience the Morris-Jenkins difference—fast, friendly, and family-approved cooling services!
