5 Signs Your Air Conditioner Needs a Regas
Air conditioners don't use up refrigerant – if it's low, there's a leak. Here are the five signs to watch for.
Refrigerant isn't a consumable like petrol. A sealed system should keep the same charge for its whole life, so if yours is low, something has leaked. Here's how to spot it early.
1. It's blowing air, but it isn't cold
The most obvious sign. The fan runs, air comes out of the head unit, but the room never really cools down. Low refrigerant means the system can't absorb enough heat, so you get moving air instead of cold air.
2. Ice on the pipes or the indoor coil
Frost or ice on the copper lines running to the outdoor unit, or on the fins inside the indoor unit, points to low pressure in the system. Turn it off and let it thaw – running it iced up can damage the compressor, which is the expensive part.
3. Hissing or bubbling sounds
A faint hiss when the unit is running, or a bubbling sound when it stops, can be refrigerant escaping through a small crack or a loose flare joint. Any new noise from a system that used to be quiet is worth a look.
4. Your power bill has crept up
An undercharged system runs longer to reach the same temperature, so it draws more power for less result. If the bill has jumped and nothing else about your usage has changed, the air conditioner is a good place to start looking.
5. It keeps starting and stopping
Short cycling – turning on for a few minutes, shutting off, then starting again – often means the system is tripping on pressure. It's hard on the compressor and it never gets the room comfortable.
What a regas involves
Doing it properly means finding the leak first. We pressure-test the system, repair the fault, pull a vacuum to remove moisture and air, then weigh in the exact charge of refrigerant the manufacturer specifies. Simply topping up a leaking system is a waste of money – it'll be flat again next summer.
Why it has to be a licensed technician
Handling refrigerant requires an ARC licence. Beyond the legal side, an incorrect charge – too much or too little – will shorten the life of your compressor. It's not a DIY job, and the canned top-up kits sold online do more harm than good.
Need a hand?
We're a local Bendigo team and we're happy to take a look. Give us a call on (03) 5444 4677 for honest advice and a free quote.
Want a hand with your heating or cooling?
Talk to our local Bendigo team for honest advice and a free quote.
Call (03) 5444 4677