8 Symptoms of Low Refrigerant in an AC Unit and Why It Matters

August 23, 2023

Summer weather means pool parties, picnics, and lots of lemonade. It also means relying on your AC unit to keep your home comfortable. When you turn on the air conditioning, you want it to respond immediately. You never want to deal with a faulty unit on a hot day.

If your air conditioner is struggling to keep your home cool, the unit may be low on refrigerant. Learn how to recognize the symptoms of low refrigerant in an AC unit, and call Hamilton at 913-227-4943 when it’s time for a refill.

8 SIGNS YOUR AC IS LOW ON REFRIGERANT

An experienced technician can see the warning signs immediately, but many homeowners don’t know how to spot low refrigerant. Here are eight ways to catch the issue before it becomes a serious problem.

1. IT TAKES A WHILE FOR THE HOME TO COOL DOWN

Low refrigerant levels will prevent your AC from functioning efficiently. This means the AC will need to be on for longer periods of time to lower indoor temperatures, leading to higher electricity costs.

2. VENTS BLOW WARM OR LUKEWARM AIR

When working properly, an air conditioner blows cold air into your home. If you feel warm or lukewarm air, low refrigerant may be the cause.

3. THE THERMOSTAT NEVER REACHES THE SET TEMPERATURE

Unless your thermostat is broken, it shouldn’t take too long for the temperature on the thermostat to reach your desired temperature. If your thermostat never seems to reach that temperature, call Hamilton at 913-227-4943 so we can add refrigerant to your AC unit.

4. YOUR ELECTRIC BILL IS UNUSUALLY HIGH

Compare this month’s electric bill to the one for the same month in previous years and check to see if there is a substantial difference. If there is, you may have low levels of refrigerant, causing your AC to work harder.

5. THERE IS ICE ON REFRIGERANT LINES

When refrigerant levels drop, the refrigerant pressure inside the evaporator coil decreases, causing a drop in temperature as well. Low refrigerant temperature, in turn causes ice to form on evaporator coils.

If you spot ice buildup on copper tubing or on the evaporator coil, the AC is low on refrigerant, and you may have a leak in your refrigerant coils. Don’t try clearing the ice yourself—wait for a professional to take care of it.

6. THERE IS WATER ON THE FLOOR NEAR THE FURNACE

When the ice melts, you’ll notice puddles of water near the unit. Be sure to call Hamilton at 913-227-4943 for a thorough inspection and repair.

7. YOU HEAR HISSING OR BUBBLING

If you hear a hissing or bubbling noise from your unit, this could also indicate an AC refrigerant leak. Avoid trying to fix the issue yourself since refrigerant is a toxic chemical and should only be handled by a licensed technician.

8. THE AC CONSTANTLY CYCLES ON AND OFF

If your system turns on, runs very briefly, turns off, and then turns on again just a few minutes later, it’s a sign your AC system is overworking. It’s struggling to cool your home, so it turns off and tries restarting. If this happens, contact Hamilton and we’ll get a technician to your home in record time.

WHAT CAUSES LOW REFRIGERANT IN AC UNITS?

Low refrigerant is generally a result of a refrigerant leak, which can be caused by:

Corrosion of copper lines
Leaking rubber seals
A hole in the refrigerant line
Loose joints

In rare cases, low refrigerant could be due to an installation error. If that’s the case, you should reach out to the company that installed your unit. Otherwise, contact Hamilton at 913-227-4943, and we’ll identify the issue.

HOW DO I CHECK MY HOME AC REFRIGERANT LEVEL?

On most AC setups, a gauge on the main unit shows exactly how much refrigerant is in the system. To access it, you should first turn off the AC and may need to remove the metal cover.

If your system doesn’t have a gauge, it’s best to call professionals to perform a routine maintenance check.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU IGNORE LOW REFRIGERANT LEVELS IN AN AC UNIT?

If your AC unit doesn’t have enough refrigerant and you don’t get it fixed right away, you could end up with a larger problem, such as:

A broken compressor
A frozen evaporator coil
More humidity inside your home
A lot of noise when the AC is on
Higher temperatures in your home
Higher energy bills

Not only will your AC be unable to cool your home efficiently, but you could also end up with a damaged AC unit that you’ll have to pay big bucks to replace. If you think your AC unit is low on refrigerant, get a professional to come help right away.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO ADD MORE REFRIGERANT TO MY UNIT?

The cost of adding refrigerant to your unit can vary based on the size of the unit, the type of refrigerant it requires, and the service costs in your area. If your unit has damage that’s causing your refrigerant levels to drop, it’ll cost extra to fix the damage. Contact Hamilton for a quote so you can get a better idea of how much you’ll need to pay for HVAC repairs.

WHAT DO I DO WHEN MY AC UNIT HAS LOW REFRIGERANT?

When you notice symptoms of low refrigerant in your AC unit, you should always call a professional to help. Don’t try adding refrigerant yourself because it’s a toxic chemical, and you could easily get hurt.

Instead, call Hamilton, the best AC repair crew around! We have years of experience helping people in the Kansas City area keep their homes comfortable with top-of-the-line AC service and installation. Simply call 913-227-4943 or schedule an appointment online. We’ll have your AC unit up and running again in no time.