Freon Recharge

Recharging a cooling system with Freon is necessary when the system has a shortage of refrigerant. This condition affects the system's ability to maintain cool temperatures and is usually the cause behind an AC unit that seems to not be working but appears to be running "normally." When a system is low on refrigerant, it will cool just above room temperature (if it cools at all) and will struggle to keep up with its desired set point. If a system fails to cool despite putting out air at a low temperature and has an apparent outlet with frost or ice buildup, it is likely having a problem with Too Little Freon.

In a perfect world, a well-functioning air conditioning system should not need a refill on Freon very often, if at all. Under normal circumstances, Freon should persist for the entire life of the cooling system without needing to be replaced. If the refrigerant is low and Freon must be added again and again over a short period, that's usually a sign that your system has a serious problem—most commonly, a refrigerant leak. A trained and qualified HVAC technician can help identify the problem and get your system back up and running efficiently.

The complexity of recharging Freon makes it inadvisable for anyone untrained to attempt the task. Its intricacies and potential safety risks demand a level of expertise that most do-it-yourselfers do not have. Most people handling refrigerants either must be certified or must work under the direct supervision of someone who is certified. In fact, even those who are certified can't just go and buy refrigerant; they must have a job, or an employer with a job, to buy it for. This is 'safe' in that it keeps unqualified people from messing with a dangerous substance. And it seems to keep the environment safe because it prevents too much of the stuff from getting into the atmosphere.

Several things can affect how much it will cost to recharge a system with Freon. The most important is the kind of system that needs the refrigerant. A semi-hermetic compressor, for instance, is not typically found in most residences since it works best in commercial settings. Even if you have a residential system that uses R-22, you'll find the typical professional price to be around $550 to $650. If your system has diagnosed repair needs or requires a significant amount of refrigerant, the price can be right around $600—though some report having paid as little as $100 for the service.

Several signs demonstrate that the system may need a recharge, with the most noticeable being a stark reduction in the cooling performance of your air conditioner. The system starts to blow warm air at some of the same vents through which it used to blow cool air. This isn't the only potential symptom of a system low on refrigerant, though. Another symptom could be if you're hearing some strange new hissing sounds coming from the A/C that you've never noticed before. A refrigerant leak would definitely cause a noticeable and unusual sound. Hearing lots of hissing noises coming from your A/C system could be a signal that your system is leaking refrigerant and needs a professional diagnostic.

R-22, a type of Freon, is not being used anymore due to how it affects the environment, particularly the ozone layer. The Environmental Protection Agency has told manufacturers to stop making R-22, which is commonly used, and to replace it with something that's more environmentally friendly. The newer refrigerants used in AC systems, like R-410A, don't have the same problem, but if you have an old R-22 system, you may need to either retrofit it or replace it entirely to comply with environmental regulations.

Recharging Freon in a professional manner usually takes 1 to 2 hours. It's an involved process with multiple steps: if necessary, several repairs are made first, the technician meticulously checks the entire system, finding and fixing any leaks and ensuring that the cure for the air conditioner is not worse than the disease; then the system is refilled with refrigerant. If your car air conditioner is not blowing cold, the cause might not be low refrigerant, but a problem with the refrigerant circuit.

Charging your cooling system with barely enough Freon can lead the entire system to work inadequently. The unit will run longer and use more energy to produce less cooling than it should. Working under these conditions can lead some cooling system components to fail, especially the compressor, an essential part of the system that does the hard work for the cooling system and lives in the system's high-pressure section.

Cooling systems utilize several different types of refrigerants, each with distinct characteristics. Among the types still in use are R-22 (which is being phased out), R-410A (which is the current standard for residential systems), and R-134A (which is used principally in automotive applications). Not only do the different refrigerants have their own specific properties, but they also have varying compatibility requirements with different types of cooling systems. For this reason, it is imperative that HVAC professionals use the correct refrigerant in any given application.

Several methods are employed by HVAC technicians to locate leaks in systems that have lost their refrigerant charge. These include using electronic leak detectors, which amplify and convert the low-frequency sounds of a small amount of refrigerant escaping the system into an audible tone that the technician can then follow to the source of the leak; using soap solutions that will bubble at the site of a leak; and employing more novel methods involving infrared cameras that can "see" the refrigerant vapor as it escapes the system.