Air conditioning systems, in order to provide effective and efficient cooling, need to maintain an appropriate refrigerant charge. If the refrigerant is undercharged or overcharged, the unit will not be able to produce and distribute cool air evenly. Therefore, to avoid serious problems, you should consider the following tell-tale signs of your system being overcharged and have an HVAC repair service to fix the issue.
Higher Cost Of Operation
An air conditioning system that is overcharged costs more money to run with less efficiency. Although most people might assume that more refrigerant leads to more cooling power, that is not the case. Air conditioning systems are programmed and equipped with features that allow them to run as efficiently as possible. Therefore, the air conditioning systems achieve this by balancing each aspect.
If the refrigerant level happens to be over, you should consider its effects on the system. Every air conditioning system is designed to handle an ideal refrigerant amount. The refrigerant absorbs heat; therefore, it needs to be in a gaseous state. However, if the refrigerant levels are high, it means that part of it will remain liquid. This calls for decreasing the overall efficiency of the AC unit.
In addition to that, higher refrigerant levels also increase the operation cost by forcing your compressor to use more amount of energy. An overcharged unit makes it comparatively harder for the compressor to do its job. This leads to an increase in the compressor’s ampere consumption.
Sticky Indoor Air
Another tell-tale sign of an overcharged air conditioner is that it will affect your indoor air quality as well in terms of humidity. The refrigerant flowing to the evaporator coils inside your home should be in a gaseous state. However, as mentioned previously, an overcharged unit will have some part of the refrigerant in a liquid state.
The refrigerant in the form of liquid does not possess the ability to absorb heat. As a result, the evaporator coils will remain at a higher temperature than usual. This will lead to the water vapors inside your home failing to condense around the evaporator coils. Instead of dehumidification, the water vapors will remain suspended in the air making your home feel much stickier and muggier.
Excessive Condenser Heat
The condenser is designed to help the refrigerant get rid of the heat as it passes through your house. Therefore, do not be surprised if you observe the condenser giving off heat. However, in the case of an overcharged unit, the temperature of the air being forced out of the condenser unit will greatly increase. You should be able to notice it by putting your hand on the condenser’s top.
This heat is not produced by any other components but due to high refrigerant levels themselves. Additionally, the overworked compressor also contributes a portion of heat. As a result, your compressor will overheat and give up entirely.
Non-Functioning Air Conditioner
An overcharged air conditioning system needs immediate attention. If left ignored, the unit will stop working altogether. As mentioned earlier, it might be due to the compressor giving up. Similarly, it could also be due to other AC components overheating and giving up.
Fortunately, the problem of overcharging is easy to solve. A professional can easily check and measure the pressure of the refrigerant. If the level is high, the professional will simply bleed the refrigerant until it reaches its optimum temperature.
Ensure Regular Maintenance Of Your AC Unit
An overcharged air conditioning system is usually a result of a shoddy maintenance job. If you were to hire someone who is not aware of the basics, chances are that he will overcharge the air conditioning unit. Every air conditioning system comes with a pre-specified refrigerant limit from the manufacturer. If you are unsure about the optimum level, consult the owner’s manual.
Final Word
An overcharged air conditioning system not only increases your monthly bills but decreases the indoor air quality as well. Although overcharging is rare in new units, it is not impossible. Therefore, if you observe the above-mentioned signs, make sure that you get your system checked by a professional. Look for multiple air conditioning companies Chantilly and choose according to your budget set for AC repairs.
