The refrigerant, a chemical compound, plays a crucial role in the efficient operation of an HVAC system. You might have heard technicians often say: “Your HVAC needs a refrigerant recharge?” An air-conditioner has a non-flammable gas inside the copper coils. This is the refrigerant, which absorbs heat from the inside air of a commercial kitchen, restaurant, and other facilities that have HVAC systems installed. As the heat absorption begins, the low-pressure gas turns into a high-pressure liquid as it travels through compressors and evaporators. After its job is done, the liquid gets back to its gaseous form once again.
It is important to understand the role of HVAC refrigerant as well as the necessity to get the recharge to avoid other issues.
The Role of HVAC Refrigerant
The HVAC system for its functioning relies on refrigerant. In fact, the entire cooling process revolves around this chemical. The role of refrigerant is to first go through evaporation and then condensation. First, the compressor takes the refrigerant to a high-pressure point. As a result of this raised pressure, the chemical compound condenses and releases heat outdoors. After this, the compound evaporates to absorb heat and then deposit it outdoors. New technologies have emerged to make this entire procedure much more efficient than ever before to deliver highly effective cooling results. If the HVAC system in your facility doesn’t have the right amount of refrigerant, the AC will fail to effectively cool the property. So, it is important to keep the refrigerant level at a fixed amount at all times.Types of Refrigerant Used in Air Conditioners
Not one type of refrigerant is used in all air conditioners. There are multiple types of refrigerants out there. The type of refrigerant you should use depends on the type or model of HVAC system you have installed. Many new refrigerants have replaced old types of refrigerants as well.Some common refrigerants are as follows:
- Chlorofluorocarbons
- R22
- R410
Signs Your HVAC Needs a Refrigerant Recharge
The refrigerant is not there to be consumed by the system. In fact, the HVAC unit keeps on cycling the same quantity of refrigerant for an unlimited period of time - until the entire system breaks down. However, a recharge will be required in the event of a leak. If the HVAC technicians say your heating and cooling unit needs a refrigerant recharge, this is a major sign that there is an issue with the system. That is why the technician will first identify the location of the leak, repair it properly and then go ahead with recharging the chemical so that it doesn’t leak again. To find out whether it is time for a recharge, you should keep an eye on the warning signs.Signs your HVAC needs a recharge to include:
- The AC doesn’t cool the facility properly
- Vent hoods are blowing warm air
- Energy bills have gone up
- The refrigerant line has ice deposits
- The refrigerant lines make a hissing sound
What You Should Do
If you think refrigerant is leaking, you should never try to fix the problem yourself. It is the job of experts, and you should reach out to professionals for immediate help and solution to the problem.Before HVAC technicians arrive, you should:
- Switch off the air conditioner
- Turn the thermostat fan on for 2-3 hours
- Get in touch with technicians