A home air conditioner unit uses a refrigerant – Freon – to pull heat out of your home’s air, then compress the A/C Freon to cool it. But, if there isn’t enough refrigerant, the heat can’t get pulled out; it just blows right back into your home. So what do you do?
Recharge. It’s not truly a “recharge”, it’s more of a “refill”. Your home A/C Freon is drained and refilled, returning your cooling unit to fighting shape.
How To Recharge Your Home A/C Freon
Don’t.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends not replacing Freon or refrigerant by yourself for both health and environmental reasons. Only an EPA licensed technician is legally allowed to reclaim Freon.
Older formulas of Freon – specifically R-22 – are no longer used, but can still be found online. These older formulas are only used in older A/C units, but without the right training you may use the wrong formula.
The EPA requires that any activity with A/C Freon be recorded and reported to the EPA so they can track it. All Freon must also be properly reclaimed and recycled to prevent release into the environment. The EPA has specific equipment approved for these functions.
So, if you know you need a recharge, definitely call a professional like H&S Heating and Air!
Signs You Need A Recharge
But how do you know if you need a A/C Freon recharge? One of the best ways to know is if you’ve been cleaning you A/C filter and keeping maintenance up, but the vents are blowing near-room temperature air.
Another sign of a need for a recharge is if you have a leak. A leak can lead to frost or ice buildup on your A/C unit, usually on the pipes inside.
Regular maintenance by your local HVAC technician – like us – can help keep your A/C Freon charged up. During a maintenance visit, we can detect any leaks and repair or recharge your system.
Get in touch with H&S today to schedule an inspection and recharge your home A/C Freon!
