With the weather the way it has been recently, it’s hard to believe that it’s not actually summer yet. However, summer is very quickly approaching, and when it hits with full force you’ll want to ensure that your air conditioner is in the best shape possible to take on the added stress of keeping your home cool all season long.
One of the most common air conditioning service questions we receive from our customers is whether or not they need to refill the refrigerant in their air conditioning system. The quick answer is, “no!” Keep reading to learn more about the role of refrigerant and why you should never have to refill it, absent of a leak or problem with your AC system.
The Role of Refrigerant
Refrigerant is not just one liquid. Rather, it is a combination of heat transfer fluids that helps your air conditioner function. Your AC system uses refrigerant to cool your home by absorbing heat out of the air. The evaporator coil evaporates refrigerant to siphon heat from the air in your ductwork, which it then sends to the outside condenser coil.
The condenser coil coverts the refrigerant gas back into liquid, and releases it into the air outside the home. During no time of this process does the air conditioner consume refrigerant. Instead, it recycles refrigerant back and forth during operation.
When Is It Ever Necessary to Refill Refrigerant?
The only time you should ever need to refill the refrigerant in your air conditioner is if the system’s refrigerant line has developed a leak. This type of leak will drain your system of the fluid it needs to function, and thus create a steady decrease in cooling output.
Eventually, this can cause your whole air conditioner to break down. Therefore, if you do notice a leak of any kind in your air conditioner, you should call for repairs as soon as possible. The leak will need to be repaired and the lost refrigerant will need to be replaced to restore your air conditioner to full function.
For quality air conditioner repairs in Santa Fe, NM, contact Roadrunner Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration today.
