If you feel warm air blowing in from your vents when the AC is running – or if you’ve noticed frost or ice forming on your outside central air conditioner lines – your air conditioner is probably low on refrigerant.
Refrigerant is used to transfer heat from inside to outside your home. When levels are low – usually due to a leak – heat builds up in the condenser coils, at first decreasing cool air and eventually causing a breakdown (during our annual HVAC tune-up, our technicians check for leaks and monitor refrigerant to be sure your system is performing at its best).
Freon – the most common refrigerant– is being phased out and replaced with less harmful substitutes. Because of this, Freon (also called R22) is getting much more expensive, which will make recharging your system more costly until the phase-out is complete – something to consider when weighing the benefits of servicing vs. replacing your AC system.
If you find that your home isn’t as cool as It used to be with the AC on – or if you notice that your system needs to be recharged regularly – it may be time to consider a new, high efficiency air conditioning system that uses a more economical and environmentally friendly refrigerant.
With great specials that can save you hundreds of dollars or more on a new system, it might be worth the investment – especially if your system is 10 years old or more.
Contact Needham today to learn more and get a FREE estimate on a new air conditioner for your Boston-area home!