Springtime is here, and that means temperatures in Miami will keep rising until summer hits. If your home feels warm even you’ve switched on the AC, you might wonder whether their refrigerant needs refilling or replacing. Without the proper amount of refrigerant, your AC unit will not be able properly cool your home.

The Signs of Low Refrigerant Levels

Low refrigerant levels don’t just make it warmer and uncomfortable in your home. Low levels could also damage your AC unit. It’s important to identify and address this issue promptly.

Your AC is blowing warm air

It’s often the first and telltale sign of low refrigerant: warm air is coming from your supply vents. Your AC needs refrigerant to cool your air. So if there’s not enough refrigerant, the air coming from the unit will be lukewarm or even warm. It could also take longer than normal to cool your home.

Keep in mind that warm air from your AC could be caused by a variety of issues, so you should also look to other signs as well.

Your energy bills are higher than normal

If your AC unit is low on refrigerant, it will have to work harder to cool your home. Less refrigerant means the AC system will have less power to remove heat from the air it circulates. That hard work will translate to longer run times and higher energy bills.

Odd noises (hissing or bubbling) from the outside unit

If you hear hissing from your outdoor AC unit, there may be a refrigerant leak. The hiss is the sound of the refrigerant escapgin as gas. You could also hear a bubbling noise, which could be refrigereant leaking in liquid form.

Outside unit is iced or frosted

Take a look at your refrigerant lines and outdoor unit. If you see ice and/or frost on them, your refrigerant might be low. When refrigerant levels are low, the temperature of the refrigerant can drop below normal temperatures. After a period of time, this drop in temperature will cause ice to build on both the evaporator coil as well as the lines.

What to Do Next if Refrigerant Levels Are Low

If you see or hear any of the above indicators, it’s best to contact a professional HVAC technician. You should not attempt to fix refrigerant issues on your own. Recharging refrigerant is a dangerous process. Recharging also might only bandaid an issue, so proper evaluation of your unit is needed to be sure you’re fixing the root cause. Additionally, as mentioned above, some of these issues may also have other causes.

Several issues might cause low refrigerant levels, including a leak within the condenser unit, an unmaintained system, or incorrectly installed installation of your condenser. Each of these issues require a licensed HVAC technician to diagnose and repair.

Fix Low Refrigerant Levels in Miami

If your AC unit needs refrigerant, call in a licensed HVAC technician to get that cool AC feeling back. The professionals at One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Miami can provide fast and effective AC repair. And with scheduled preventative maintenance and inspections, One Hour Air Miami can also help you prolong the life of your AC unit . Don’t let low refrigerant keep you from a cool, comfortable home. Contact the professional HVAC technicians at One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning of Miami to schedule your service today.