How To Tell if Your AC Needs More Refrigerant

Summer has arrived, and with it, the warm weather. The heat makes for great beach days, waterpark fun, and poolside barbecues. Staying cool and having fun is the name of the game. However, that’s hard to do when your car’s air conditioner (AC) malfunctions. Various problems can stop your AC from working correctly. With that in mind, we had our AC experts explain how your car’s AC works and compile a list of warning signs that it might need some help.

Why Is My Car Not Cooling Down?

Vehicle air conditioners employ a complex process to cool the air inside your car. The process involves a chemical reaction with a gaseous refrigerant called freon. Your car’s AC compresses the freon, increasing its temperature. Next, the AC pumps the hot freon through cooling coils that turn it from a gas into a liquid. The liquid then moves through the system, evaporating in a series of coils and getting extremely cold.

The fan system in your car pumps the warm air through these freezing coils, cooling it and returning it to the cabin. The warm air passing through the cold coils causes the freon to heat. This, therefore, requires a constant circulation of freon to maintain cool temperatures inside your vehicle. So, you have two systems constantly working to keep your AC running. Unfortunately, things can go wrong with all these moving parts, leading to the failure of your AC and your car not cooling down.

Signs That Your Car Needs Its AC Refrigerant Replaced

Fortunately, attentive drivers can spot the warning signs of a failing AC unit if they know what to look for.

Gradual Reduction of Cold Air

If your AC never produces cold air, you have a problem. Leaks in the AC system occur over time. Even a minor collision could knock something loose or cause a part to break. Small leaks over time cause the freon level to drop, and less freon results in not enough cool air for maximum performance. As a result, if you have a small leak, you’ll notice gradual warming of the air.

Abrupt Loss of Cold Air

If one day you have cold air and the next none, you could have a large leak, usually resulting from a failed part. Or, you could have a more severe problem with your AC unit. We recommend you bring your car in for service if this happens. Then, our expert technicians can quickly diagnose and fix the problem.

Air Conditioning Clutch Malfunction

Your AC unit uses a clutch to engage the system and create pressure. When you turn on your AC unit, you should hear the clutch engage with a noticeable click. If you don’t hear that and get warm air, you could have a problem with the clutch. The clutch requires freon in the system to engage. Therefore, your clutch not engaging doesn’t always mean failure. You might simply need more freon.

Compressor Failure

Your AC system relies on pressure to compress the freon from a gas into a liquid. A failed compressor can result in warm air flowing through your AC system. A failed compressor doesn’t happen often, but it can occur.

Visible Leaks

A visible freon leak means you have a more serious problem. Freon appears as a thin liquid with a greasy texture. You’ll often spot leaks around the compressor and pooling under the vehicle. In rare cases, freon can even leak into the cabin. We suggest you have our service center technicians inspect your AC system if you spot a leak.

Does Your AC Break More Easily in the Summer?

Our customers often bemoan their misfortune when their car’s AC fails at an inopportune time in the heat of summer. There are several reasons your car’s AC may break more easily in the summer. Most importantly, usage of your AC system rises as the temperatures climb. The more we use a piece of equipment, the more wear and tear that item experiences. Eventually, this can lead to a breakdown. Unfortunately, this happens when you need the AC most. It’s also the case that you don’t use your AC much in the winter. It can’t break down if it’s not used.

Recharging Your AC Unit

We always recommend you have a professional mechanic perform repairs and maintenance. Having a certified technician recharge your AC ensures the job gets done right. Our service department can quickly recharge your AC unit and get you back to your busy life.

However, we respect DIY people and want to help in any way we can. If you enjoy performing routine services, such as recharging your car’s AC, we encourage you to take advantage of our expertise. Our parts center technicians can help you identify the correct parts and even sell you any special tools you might need to get the job done right. In addition, you can conveniently order parts online, and we’ll have them ready for you when you arrive.

How Often Should You Replace or Recharge Your Freon?

No precise answer exists for this question since it depends on the frequency of use and unpredictable circumstances like leaks. We suggest you recharge your freon when you notice a drop in cooling ability. Once recharged, your AC unit will cool the air more quickly. Ignoring the issue could lead to more serious problems, as running your AC with no freon in the system can cause significant damage to the compressor. The cost of replacing your AC compressor can exceed $1,000. Compared to the low cost of recharging, it only makes sense to keep the freon charge.

We understand how much you rely on your AC in the summer months at Meadowland GMC. That’s why we recommend you recharge your AC unit before the season. However, if you experience a drop in cooling performance at any time this summer, we invite you to schedule a service online. Our factory-certified technicians will inspect your AC unit to determine the cause of poor performance. Your technician will explain the problem and outline the process to fix it, including a detailed cost breakdown.

Photo Credits: 2020 GMC Sierra with custom fit offset Gatorback flaps with stainless GMC logo by Truck Hardware is licensed with CC BY 2.0

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