Most homeowners do not understand the technical details behind how an air conditioning system works. This is to be expected, particularly when you consider the complexity of modern air conditioners and the years of training required to become a technician who is licensed and trained to repair and install them.
However, there are some common misconceptions about air conditioners that can actually get in the way of properly caring for a system and knowing when to call for repairs. One of the biggest myths is in regards to how refrigerant works, and we’d like to help clear this up.
Refrigerant Should Not Be Compared to Fuel
People commonly believe that the chemical refrigerant that moves through their air conditioning system is something that the system must consume in order to function, similar to how a combustion engine in a car consumes gasoline and exhausts the byproduct as fumes. However, this is simply not the case.
Your air conditioning system does not use up its refrigerant and exhaust it as cooling. Rather, it uses its refrigerant to carry out heat transfer—moving heat from the inside of a home to the outside—and does not dissipate. The refrigerant is cycled through the AC, changing from a liquid to a gas and back again, over and over. The same amount of refrigerant—referred to as the air conditioner’s charge—should last for its entire lifecycle.
So What If Your System Is Losing Refrigerant?
If you have leaks along the refrigerant line, your system could be losing some of its charge. This is a major repair issue that must be taken care of right away. Without the proper amount of refrigerant, your air conditioner will start losing its cooling power and the drop in refrigerant will cause damage to components within your unit.
If you are continuously experiencing refrigerant leaks, and paying for frequent repairs as a result, then it may be time to consider replacing your air conditioner all together. This is particularly true if you have an air conditioning system that is over a decade old. In many cases, replacement is more cost-effective than continual repairs for an aging system.
To have your air conditioner replaced in Ashburn, VA, contact AllTech Services, Inc. today.