Charging is a common service performed by technicians in the heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) industry.
If your AC system isn’t cooling your home like it used to, charging may be the answer. During a charging service, an HVAC technician will pump refrigerant into your AC system. As your AC system’s refrigerant levels normalize, it should blow cooler air.
How Charging Works
Charging is designed to increase the amount of refrigerant in AC systems.
Your AC system needs refrigerant to cool your home. It’s a chemical-based substance that’s used to transfer heat. Refrigerant will flow through your AC system’s components – the evaporator coil, the condenser coil, and the refrigerant lines – while removing heat from inside your home.
Without refrigerant, this transfer of heat won’t occur.
Charging will bring your AC system’s refrigerant back to normal levels. It involves refilling refrigerant into your AC system so that this chemical-based substance can transfer heat from the interior of your home to the exterior.
Signs Your AC System Needs Charging
How do you know if your AC system needs charging exactly? Lack of cool air is a telltale sign.
The blower may still turn, and your AC system may still release air out of the vents. But the air won’t be cold. The air coming out the vents may be the same or similar temperature as the rest of your air.
If you notice a lack of cool air, your AC system may need charging.
Frozen coils is a sign that your AC system needs charging. When refrigerant levels begin to decrease, your AC system won’t absorb as much heat. Therefore, the evaporator coil and condenser coil will operate at a lower temperature, which may cause them to freeze.
Don’t Do It Yourself
Even if your AC system needs charging, you shouldn’t attempt to do it yourself.
Charging is a service that only licensed and qualified HVAC technicians should perform. There are laws restricting the sale of refrigerants to HVAC technicians and other professionals. As a homeowner, you probably won’t be able to purchase the refrigerant needed to charge your AC system.
Attempting to charge your AC system yourself could result in damage.
You can’t just pump an endless amount of refrigerant into your AC system. All AC systems are designed to hold a specific amount of refrigerant. If there’s too much refrigerant in your AC system, the compressor may break. For a charging service, you should contact an HVAC technician.
If you are experiencing a problem with your air conditioning or heating call us at 512-336-1431 to schedule an appointment. We’ll be glad to come out and take a look at the issue.
1431-183 A/C & Heating proudly serves Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Leander, Liberty Hill, and North Austin.
