There are quite a few things that can go wrong with your air conditioning unit and sometimes it’s hard to tell if it’s a serious problem or something that is very simple to fix. One of the most common problems an AC unit can have is a low level of refrigerant. Since you pay so much for your air conditioning unit, you want to make sure to have your air conditioning properly diagnosed.
If you think the Freon in your AC unit is low, look for these following signs:
Slow Cooldown Time – Does your air conditioning unit takes a long time to cool your home down? If so, this could mean that the refrigerant level in your air conditioning unit is low. Your air conditioner functions by using refrigerant to absorb heat from the air, so with a low refrigerant level, your house won’t cool down fast, if at all.
Blows Warm Air – An air conditioning unit that is blowing warm air is obviously not functioning properly. This is also a sign that your AC unit is in need of Freon.
High Electric Bill – When the refrigerant is low, it takes longer for it to cool your home, which means your AC unit is running longer and more often than usual. Since the unit is running longer, it’s using more energy that will raise your electric bill. If you notice your electric bill is higher than usual, call a technician to inspect the Freon levels of your AC unit.
Ice Buildup – To see if ice has built up on the copper coil, look on the outside unit. If the line is frozen, it has become too cool and as a result, the refrigerant flows back into the line. When the line becomes frozen, it quits cooling your home. Not only does it quit cooling your home, it also has the potential to damage your unit’s compressor. Turn off your unit and call a professional immediately if you see that the copper coil is frozen.