How To Check Your Home Air Conditioner’s Freon Level?
It’s not until the summer season, when the weather gets warmer, that homeowners begin to question if their home air conditioner is working. It could be because they have noticed that their home isn’t as cool as they wish it to be.
If you suspect your home air conditioner isn’t working, the first place you want to check is the freon level. People tend to neglect the freon more often than not, and when the air conditioner stops working altogether, they quickly want to have it checked by professionals like Dowd Heat & Air. And while there’s nothing wrong with seeking professional services, learning how to check your home air conditioner’s freon level yourself can save you some bucks that you would have otherwise been charged for diagnosing the air conditioner’s problem.
Once the freon level is adjusted correctly, you have a fully functional home air conditioner. If you’re wondering how to check the home air conditioner’s freon level, this article will guide you.
What Is A Freon?
A freon is a cooling agent placed in air conditioners to cool the warm air and release it as cool air to the rest of the house. The coolant also helps to get rid of the air conditioner’s internal heat as it runs. It, therefore, helps the Air Conditioning (AC) continue running efficiently.
With time, the level of freon decreases, and it requires to be refilled so that the conditioner can keep performing at optimum. Even though freon is highly toxic, making it dangerous to human beings, there’s a safe way to check the level of your freon so that you can know when it needs a refill or any other kind of repair. As mentioned earlier, this helps to reduce the work of diagnosing your air conditioner’s problem. It also cuts the cost of diagnosis.
Here’s a guide on how to check your home air conditioner’s freon level:
- Do A Sound Test
It’s among the easiest things to determine if your freon level is low. Listen in on your home air conditioner. If it’s producing some bubbling hissing sound, it’s an indication that the freon level is low, and it would need some refilling. Other than just listening, it’s important that you trace where the sound is coming from along the entire line to ensure that it’s indeed a problem with the freon level.
The sound test can also help you determine if your freon leaks. Bubbling or hissing sound indicates that there’s a leak in the line and it needs repair.
- Check For Warm Air
It’s another easy way that you can use to check for freon levels in your Ac. It should therefore be among the first steps you take in how to check your home air conditioner’s freon level
Place your hand against the vent of the AC to feel if the air being dispensed is cold or warm. If the air is warm or lukewarm, that’s a sign that the system is low on freon. When the levels of freon are good, the air blown out is usually cold.
- The Soap Test
When there’s a leak on your AC, it’s almost given that freon levels are gradually decreasing. Therefore, another way to check your home air conditioner’s freon level is by checking for leaks in the entire system.
The soap test is one of the oldest methods for checking for leaks. Start by mixing water and soap and putting the mixture where you think there’s a leak in the line. If you observe a bubble up, it’s an indication that your freon is leaking, and you’ll need to refill it and repair the leakage.
Although the soap test has proved to be reliable over the years, it can only detect significant leakages. You may therefore have to use other methods if you suspect your home air conditioner has small leaks.
- Use An Electronic Detector
Technology has to the aid of those who may struggle with using the first two discussed methods of how to check your home air container’s freon level. Today there’s an electronic leak detector for your Ac.
With this gadget, all you have to do is pass it through your Ac ad let it scan for leakages. If there are any leakages, the detector will alert you, and you can then make arrangements to repair the leak and refill the freon.
- Seek Professional Help
If you’re convinced your freon levels are low after any of the steps discussed above or there’s a leak that needs repair, it’s always good that you seek the services of professional HVAC contractors. As mentioned earlier, handling freon exposes you to toxic substances that may cause organ damage. Additionally, the freon is such a delicate part of the air conditioner that altering it could result in damaging the entire device.
Wrapping It Up
Learning how to check your home air conditioner’s freon level will help you save some money that would have gone to professionals’ diagnosis of the problem. Use the four steps discussed in this article to help you detect leaks that will inform your freon levels. However, once you establish that the freon level is low or the system needs repair, leave the work to professionals. Otherwise, handling freon by yourself exposes you to many problems resulting from being exposed to toxic chemicals.