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What happens when your air conditioning refrigerant runs low

Air conditioning units need to be regularly maintained in order to function efficiently. One problem that can occur is low refrigerant, which can then cause many other problems and disruptions within the air conditioning system. Looking out for the signs of low refrigerant will ensure that your air conditioning remains efficient and effective.


Slow to cool

If your air conditioning unit takes a particularly long time to cool your environment, it may be a sign of low refrigerant. Refrigerant absorbs heat because it is a lot cooler than warm air. A lack of this will mean it cannot absorb enough heat and the room will take longer to cool. This makes your system much more inefficient than usual. Systems with particularly low refrigerant will even blow out warm air, as a clear sign that you need to replenish it.

Higher electricity bills

The inefficient cooling means your air conditioning unit will need to be on for a longer time to establish a cooler temperature in the whole environment. Because your unit will need to overcompensate to cool the room, your electricity bills will be much higher. An increase in the price of your bills is an indicator of low refrigerant so you should check your unit.

Bubbling noise

Low refrigerant is typically caused from a leak in your conditioning system which, in some cases, can release a hissing or bubbling noise.

Frozen evaporator coil

An ice build-up on the evaporator coil or refrigerant line in the unit can be a sign that your refrigerant is leaking. In this case, it’s best to leave the air conditioning off and give it a chance to thaw, in order to inspect it closely and diagnose the fault.

If your air conditioning unit has had any of these images, you should contact TEK. We install air conditioning systems for commercial and industrial buildings, but also offer regular air conditioning maintenance contracts to avoid these problems and ensure your unit works effectively. For more information, call us on 0117 952 3355 or you can contact us online.