3 Signs Your AC Unit Has Low Refrigerant

Nothing compares to the cooling power of an AC unit. When the outdoor temperatures are warm, you depend on these systems to keep your family cool. However, an air conditioner can experience problems at some point in its life.

One common issue involves an AC unit that constantly turns on and off. Check out our latest post regarding this AC problem: Does Your Central Air Conditioning Frequently Turn On and Off?

Another AC issue many homeowners deal with is an air conditioner with low refrigerant. If your system doesn’t have the right amount of this AC fluid, your unit won’t work very effectively. Low refrigerant often means there’s a leak. Luckily, there are few signs that may indicate low AC coolant in your system.

Take a look at three signs your air conditioner is low on refrigerant:

Ice on refrigerant lines

If you notice that your refrigerant line is covered in ice, that could very well indicate low refrigerant. This happens due to the low pressure in your system. When refrigerant levels aren’t high enough, this will drop pressure, which will also lower temperatures. Eventually, the temperatures can get cold enough to freeze something called an evaporator coil.

When this freeze happens, AC coolant travels through the refrigerant line, which causes the moisture in the air to freeze. This leads to the formation of ice. However, while ice on refrigerant lines may indicate other system problems, an HVAC professional can properly diagnose the issue to be sure.

Do you think you need an air conditioner Freon charge? Check out our recent post to learn more: How Often Should My Air Conditioner Need a Freon Charge.

AC unit blows hot air

Your air conditioner depends on AC coolant to cool the air in your home. When there isn’t enough of this AC fluid, you may notice warm or hot air coming from your vents. However, just like ice on refrigerant lines, this sign could also indicate another AC issue. You may notice hot air if you have a dirty outdoor unit or have problems with your compressor. Additionally, this issue can also happen if your thermostat’s fan setting is set to ON instead of AUTO.

Strange sounds coming from your system

Another sign that may indicate low refrigerant is when you hear bubbling or hissing sounds from your AC unit. While the refrigerant lines are packed with pressure, this could cause a leak, which leads to the strange sounds.

It’s important to note that a properly working system should never be low on refrigerant. If it is, there’s probably a refrigerant leak. When these problems occur, calling an HVAC technician is highly encouraged.

Next steps

So if you notice any of the three signs listed above, your system could be low on refrigerant. In this case, calling a professional HVAC expert is the right move. They can properly diagnose the problem, find a trusted solution, and get your system up and running in no time.

If you contact an AC tech and they want to add more AC coolant to your system, that most likely won’t solve your problem. If there’s a leak, adding more AC fluid will only make the issue worse. 

Be sure to call a reputable HVAC service provider to ensure the problem is fixed correctly.