Determine whether it is necessary to refuel the air conditioner at home, it may well be the owner himself. No special knowledge or equipment is required for this. There are two main signs that there is not enough freon in the system. About them, as well as about, how to refuel the air conditioner at home, read on.
Causes of freon leaks
Pressure meter Loose tube connections... All connections of the freon line are made by rolling. If the technology was violated during the fastening process, leaks are inevitable. They will become noticeable after a few months of operation of the equipment, since with a shortage of 15 - 18% of the refrigerant, the cooling efficiency is noticeably reduced. Therefore, the work is carried out not according to the norms of refueling the air conditioner, but according to the condition of the equipment;
- Natural evaporation... Often, no matter how tightly the tubes are connected, freon evaporates in an amount of 5 - 8% per year.
Owners who have saved on installation should be especially careful. If it was carried out by a lone handicraftsman, and not by a master from a specialized firm, the likelihood of poor-quality connections increases significantly.
So, to understand: whether it is necessary to refuel the air conditioner can any user of climate technology.
When to refuel the air conditioner?
How often should I refuel the air conditioner? As soon as the homeowner discovers the following symptoms, one by one or in combination:
- Air conditioner blows but does not cool... Less refrigerant carries less cold. Therefore, the effect of the system is reduced;
- Ice and frost freezes on pipe connections and fittings... In severe cases, the outdoor unit is also covered with frost. This is explained by the fact that in order to compress a small amount of refrigerant, the compressor has to work with an increased load. By the way, it wears out faster. And this is the main danger of a lack of refrigerant in the system;
- After reinstallation... During the dismantling process, part of the refrigerant will necessarily evaporate. Therefore, it is required to automatically refuel the air conditioner when it is installed in a new location;
- After repair of the outdoor unit... The air conditioner should be charged when there is a possibility of copious evaporation of the refrigerant. In some cases, you have to completely drain the freon for repair.
Refueling rates for air conditioners
Automatic refueling of air conditioners is possible, unfortunately, only for automobile climate control equipment, but not for home. Refueling of household and industrial systems is carried out under the control of pressure gauges, scales or visually.
There are no standards for refueling air conditioners.
It is necessary to add refrigerant as much as it has evaporated or leaked out. If the equipment is refueled from scratch, the instructions provide recommendations for operating pressure. They are guided by them when it is necessary to fill the air conditioner.
