Your air conditioner keeps your Atlantic Beach, Florida, home feeling comfortable. The refrigerant in your AC system is vital for its performance. But many homeowners don’t know much about how it works. This quick guide will introduce you to everything you need to know about AC refrigerant.

How Refrigerant Works

Refrigerant is a chemical located in the exterior portion of your AC system. Designed to rapidly change from a liquid to a vapor and back again, it’s responsible for removing heat from the interior air of your home. Using a condenser, the refrigerant is heated and moved through the coils where it’s then cooled to lower than the temperature inside the house. When it meets the warmer air inside, the refrigerant evaporates as it absorbs heat. The vapor then moves back to the exterior portion, transporting the heat outside where it releases it. The cycle then repeats.

Signs of a Refrigerant Leak

The main issue related to refrigerant is a leak. If there isn’t a sufficient amount of refrigerant in the AC system, it won’t be able to effectively remove heat from your home. Refrigerant leaks aren’t necessarily common, but they are one of the more recognizable issues and relatively easy to fix, depending on the location of the leak. Signs of a refrigerant leak include:

• Hot air coming from your vents
• Reduced airflow
• Higher electricity bills
• Inconsistent temperature throughout your house
• Puddles of refrigerant near your AC system

Changing Refrigerants

The United States is currently in a transition period when it comes to AC refrigerant. Previous to 2010, most HVAC systems used R22 refrigerant. However, due to significant environmental concerns, they’re now changing to R410A. This refrigerant isn’t only more energy efficient, but it’s also far more environmentally friendly.

Are you concerned that you have an air conditioner refrigerant leak? Reach out to Ocean State Air Conditioning & Heating at (904) 574-5619 right away.

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