The refrigerant in your air conditioner is one of the most important parts of the AC system. It’s what’s keeps your air conditioning system working and it’s what keeps your home cool throughout the summer.

We’re not expecting you to know much about refrigerant in your system. That’s why our experts are here. We’re the ones you can come to for guidance. If you’re having trouble with your air conditioner and you think it could be a refrigerant problem, then you should contact our professionals for AC repair in Iowa City, IA.

Refrigerant Loss, Recharging, and “Topping Off” Your Refrigerant

The main problem we face with homeowners when it comes to refrigerant is actually the mindset that they have about it. When you’re losing refrigerant, it’s always because of a leak. Words and phrases we hear surrounding refrigerant are things like “recharging” and “topping off.” You really can’t do either of these things. You wouldn’t try to fill up a cup that has a hole in it’s side. You know that any liquid you poured into it wouldn’t inevitably leak out. The same logic applies to your refrigerant.

Below, we’re going to help you determine if the problems you’re facing are actually refrigerant problems. If they are, our professionals have the right work to help you improve your HVAC services as a whole.

The Problem with Leaking Refrigerant

Your air conditioner has a set charge of refrigerant. This means that if you’re losing any part of that refrigerant then the performance of your system is being put in danger.

How to Tell If You’re Losing Refrigerant

You might notice a variety of troubles with your air conditioner, but how do you know if the problem that you’re having is with your refrigerant. Here are some signs:

Low Airflow: The first thing you’ll notice is a drop in performance. This is going to look like things like low airflow. You might find yourself naturally overcompensating for this by running your air conditioner much longer than you normally would.
Warm Air: Warm air happens when you have frozen coils in your system. This happens when there’s less cold refrigerant moving through the evaporator. It’s not able to absorb as much air when the coil is frozen. The rest of your refrigerant can’t warm up as it should with a frozen coil and you’ll notice warm air as a result.
Lack of Cooling/ Trouble Operating: Have you noticed that your air conditioner seems to struggle to perform? Maybe it takes a while for it to start up or you hear the outdoor unit humming a little harder than usual. This is a result of your air conditioner overworking itself without the proper foundation.

All these signs above are the signs that you’re losing refrigerant. You should note these signs and contact a professional as soon as possible to rid your home of this problem.

Contact Schaal Eastern Iowa today to schedule an appointment with our team members. Iowa’s Most Trusted Heating and Cooling Company.

The weather is warming up and you want your air conditioner to be able to serve you well. This is understandable. Do you know what it takes to get here, though?

You can’t just turn on your air conditioner and expect it to work flawlessly for the season. There are a couple of tips you should know. Not knowing the proper air conditioning measures that you should take leads to higher energy bills, decreased efficiency, and repair issues down the line. We want to help you with your HVAC in Iowa City, IA. That’s why we want to help you avoid making these mistakes…

Don’t Make These Mistakes

Here are some mistakes you don’t want to make this spring and summer:

1. Ignoring Sizing Calculations

You’ve decided that you need to get a new air conditioner. One of the first steps in acquiring a new air conditioner is the load calculation. You should take heed to your load calculation. We meet homeowners down the line who took this load calculation as a suggestion and then dealt with countless issues down the line. Sizing your air conditioner helps it be as perfect for your home as possible. Set yourself up for comfort and success by getting your sizing right.

2. Not Replacing Your AC Filter

You should replace your air conditioning filter at least once every few months. Once a season is the ideal rhythm you’re looking for. This means that spring is an ideal time to pop a fresh filter in your system. This keeps your air conditioner clean and reduces the amount of strain on your system. You can avoid a lot of trouble just by doing this one task on a routine basis.

3. Not Updating Your Thermostat

Ideally, you should have a smart or Wi-Fi thermostat. HVAC professionals aren’t pushing these for no reason. You hear some many technicians suggest these systems because they really are great. An updated thermostat is going to save you time, energy, and money. It’s a small investment that has big payoff.

4. Blocking Your Vents

Is there anything blocking your air conditioning vents? Really take a moment to take inventory of your home. If there are pictures, large pieces of furniture, or even articles of clothing in front of any of your vents, you’re going to run into air conditioning issues. We want to help you prevent these problems.

5. Skipping Maintenance Appointments

You should always have an annual maintenance appointment for your HVAC system. In most homes, this is going to look like two appointment annually—one in the spring to prepare your home for summer and one in the fall to prepare your home for winter.

A grave AC mistake to make is skipping your spring appointment. If you’re the type that has your appointment get lost in the hustle and bustle of daily life, you might want to consider joining our maintenance program. We call to remind you to schedule.

Contact Schaal Eastern Iowa today for your home’s AC services. Iowa’s Most Trusted Heating and Cooling Company.