Knowing When It’s Time For Your AC Refrigerant Recharging
Often, in a home, the cooling system can abruptly stop producing cool air when you least expect.
When this happens, there’s a chance that your central air conditioner needs to be recharged. Irrespective of the type of air conditioner you have, it can’t work for years without breaking down – and sooner or later, it may develop one problem or another.
There are a couple of things that may go wrong with an air conditioner, and a low charge is just one of them. When the central air conditioner is due for charging, what it does is blow out warm air. To ascertain this, place your hand in front of the vent that releases air and feels its temperature for a few minutes.
Knowing the readings of the thermostat is a good way to identify the charging problems. If your thermostat starts malfunctioning or gets broken, reset it. After that, put on the conditioner to see if there are any temperature changes. Sometimes, broken thermostats do not necessarily mean your air conditioner needs recharging, but if you are in doubt, it is advisable to call a professional to determine the problem.
You can actually carry out maintenance tasks at your home. But knowing when to conduct the maintenance and when to seek professional help can help you save time, money and minimize the risk of causing further damage to the system. Below are few tips on how to carry out an inspection at home:
Checking For Frost
Frost is easy to detect in air conditioners, and they usually occur due to leaks which can cause malfunctions in air conditioners. When you notice a frost build up or leak, it is advisable to contact professionals to help you fix the problem immediately. Never try to fix the leak yourself for they are gaseous in nature and can be hazardous if handled inappropriately.
Checking The Fan
Aside from checking the temperature of the air coming out from the thermostat, you can on your own carry out a visual inspection of the fan. To check this, turn on the air conditioner, the fan in the air conditioner should immediately start working. If that doesn’t happen, there’s a big chance the motor is faulty.
Inspecting The Filters
Filters tend to get clogged with debris and dirt quite easily. If you can, try to safely clean and unblock the clogged inside the filter. Sometimes a cooling system just only needs to be cleaned thoroughly to get running again.
Conclusion
Recharging and maintaining the air conditioner at home seems like a cool way to save some extra cash, but it can also be harmful. Which is why professionals are the right option, they not only help you charge your system properly, they can help you avoid costly mistakes and prolong the life of your air conditioner.
