Fluoridation of the air conditioner (i.e., filling with refrigerant) is one of the important maintenance measures to keep the air conditioner operating normally. Here are some common signs that your aircon may need to be fluoridated:
If the air conditioner is turned on and still cannot reach the set temperature after running for a long time, or the cooling effect is significantly not as good as before, it may be due to insufficient refrigerant (freon).
When the air conditioner refrigerant is insufficient, even if the indoor unit fan is working normally, the air blowing out will not feel cold enough, or even warm.
Insufficient refrigerant can lead to an increase in compressor load, which may manifest as frequent start-ups or shutdowns, louder-than-usual or unusual noises.
Frost or frost formation on the connecting lines of the outdoor unit or on the evaporator of the indoor unit may also be due to a lack of refrigerant due to refrigerant leakage.
Check the temperature of the indoor and outdoor connecting pipes, under normal circumstances, the liquid supply pipe (thinner tube) should be cooled, and the return pipe (thicker tube) should be slightly warm. If the temperature of both tubes is low or high, it may be a sign of insufficient refrigerant.
Due to the decrease in efficiency due to insufficient refrigerant, the air conditioner needs to run longer to reach the set temperature, resulting in an increase in electricity bills.
If you suspect that your aircon needs to be fluoridated, it is recommended to contact a professional aircon repair service for an inspection. Specialized technicians use specialized tools to test the actual pressure and amount of refrigerant, determine if fluorination is really needed, and check the system for leaks. Attempting fluoride on your own may result in too much or too little refrigerant, which can affect air conditioning efficiency or damage equipment.
Note that regular maintenance of your aircon, including cleaning the filters and checking system performance, can help improve aircon efficiency and extend its lifespan. If there is indeed a leak problem in the air conditioning system, just adding fluoride will not solve the root problem, and it needs to be detected and repaired by professionals.