Air conditioner refrigerant recharge: things you need to know.

(Baonghean.vn) -A common problem with air conditioners is that they are low on or out of refrigerant, which affects their performance and reduces cooling efficiency.

Air conditioner refrigerant charging involves supplying the correct amount of refrigerant to the machine's design pressure. The procedure involves the technician checking the refrigerant pressure in the tank to see if there is any leakage. So, when is refrigerant charging necessary, and what should you keep in mind during the process?

The harmful effects of an air conditioner running out of refrigerant.

- Money is being wasted:When your air conditioner runs out of refrigerant, you turn it on but don't understand why it's not cooling, so you maintain the same temperature, consuming a lot of electricity.

- Low or no cooling capacity:When the air conditioner runs out of air, it can't cool the room, creating an unpleasant atmosphere that makes it difficult to concentrate on work.

- Air conditioners are prone to malfunction:When the air is released and you continue to use the machine without refueling, it can gradually become damaged, posing many dangers during use.

Things you need to know about air conditioner refrigerant recharging.

- Calculate the gas refill price.A 9000 BTU (1 HP) air conditioner is not cooling effectively, with a design refrigerant pressure of 75 psi. However, a technician checked the refrigerant level and found it to be only 70 psi. Therefore, the air conditioner may not need a refrigerant recharge. However, adding refrigerant would improve the lifespan of the unit.

- Typically, air conditioners from reputable brands come pre-filled with enough refrigerant to operate without needing additional refills after installation. Depending on the machine's capacity and brand, the manufacturer will pre-fill the refrigerant for a specific length of copper tubing.

- For older air conditioners, the amount of refrigerant lost and needing to be refilled is determined based on the specifications on the outdoor unit combined with a gas pressure gauge. Normally, if installed correctly and without any malfunctions during use, the refrigerant will not leak but will circulate to cool as an essential part of the air conditioner's operation without needing to be topped up.

- Gas leaks or shortages only occur in cases such as when the machine is initially installed with insufficient gas without checking whether the operating pressure is adequate, or when the connections are not completely sealed, resulting in small leaks that, over time, cause the gas pressure in the machine to decrease to a certain level. The leak must be found and repaired before the gas can be refilled to the correct level.

It's especially important to note that when your air conditioner shows signs of running out of refrigerant, you should refill it immediately. Don't wait until the refrigerant is completely depleted before refilling, as this will affect its operation and reduce the lifespan of the compressor. You should also pay attention to regular air conditioner maintenance to detect refrigerant depletion earlier.

How can I avoid wasting money on unnecessary air conditioner gas refills?

According to refrigeration experts, if air conditioner refrigerant operates under normal conditions (without leaks), it can be used for 4-7 years without needing to be refilled, depending on the brand.

You can periodically clean the indoor unit by removing the plastic cover, taking out the filter, and washing it thoroughly.

During use, if the air conditioner is still working normally and cooling effectively, you only need to maintain and clean it; there's no need to add more refrigerant or use expensive full-service air conditioner maintenance packages.

After cleaning and inspecting the air conditioner's components to ensure nothing is damaged, if the air conditioner is still operating inefficiently, you should check the refrigerant level. Typically, with dual-mode air conditioners, when you turn on the cooling mode, the cold air is weak or absent, and the outdoor unit doesn't blow out hot air. Conversely, when you turn on the heating mode, the indoor unit doesn't blow out hot air and the outdoor unit doesn't blow out cold air.

Another way to tell is to check the gas line at the connection point to the outdoor unit. If the smaller copper pipe is covered in frost, the air conditioner is low on refrigerant. In this case, you need to call a technician to fix the problem and add enough refrigerant to the machine.

Ngoc Anh

(Synthetic)