If your air conditioner isn’t cooling as well as it used to, it might be time to recharge it with refrigerant. You’ll need some specialized equipment, but it’s a fairly easy process. First, check the refrigerant levels and make sure you have enough. Then, open the AC unit and locate the compressor. Attach the tank to the compressor and turn on the valve. When the correct pressure is reached, shut off the valve. Finally, reattach the AC unit cover and enjoy your cool air. Keep reading to learn more in-depth information about some
Get the necessary equipment and shut off the AC.
If you want to recharge an air conditioner with refrigerant, you will need some specialized equipment. This includes a recovery unit, hoses, a gauge manifold, and a charging cylinder. You can buy all of this equipment separately, or you can buy a recharge kit that includes everything you need. Once you have the necessary equipment, you will need to shut off the AC at the breaker box and locate the refrigerant lines. There are usually two lines: a high-pressure line and a low-pressure line. The high-pressure line is the larger of the two lines, and the low-pressure line is the smaller line.
Check the refrigerant levels.
Once you’ve opened the AC and located the lines, check the refrigerant levels. If the levels are low, you will need to add more refrigerant to the system. Consult your owner’s manual or call a professional HVAC technician to determine the recommended type and amount.
Locate the compressor to add the refrigerant.
The compressor is the large, usually black, metal box located on the side or bottom of the unit. If it’s located on the side of the air conditioning unit, there will be a door on the front that you can open to access the refrigerant tanks. If the compressor is located at the bottom of the air conditioning unit, you will need to remove the cover to access the tanks. Once you have located the compressor, open the door on the front (if it is located on the side) or remove the cover (if it is located on the bottom) to access the tanks. There will be two tanks, one for the high-pressure and one for the low-pressure refrigerant. The tanks will be connected to the compressor by two hoses. And the tanks will be filled with a colorless, odorless gas that is used to cool the air in your home. Remember that it is highly pressurized.
Proceed with caution when handling these gases.
You must take caution when working with the tanks, as the gas can be dangerous if it is not handled correctly. To recharge the air conditioning unit, you will need to remove the caps from the tanks and connect the hoses from the tanks to the compressor. Once the hoses are connected, you can open the valve on the high-pressure tank to release the gas. After the high-pressure tank is empty, close the valve and open the valve on the low-pressure tank. Allow the gas to flow until the low-pressure tank is empty. Once the tanks are empty, disconnect the hoses from the compressor and replace the caps on the tanks.
Keeping your AC working optimally is just one of many home improvement tasks you’ll need to learn. Handling this task can be dangerous. So, you will want to have some guidance when it comes to handling your air conditioner unit. Utilize a reliable resource or ask your local HVAC technician for advice on how to maintain your air conditioner and cooling system properly. There are plenty of technicians and AC repair services that can help you with routine maintenance regarding your AC unit.
