Envirotech Air Quality Services Blog : Posts Tagged ‘Refrigerant’

“Can I Remove Ice from my AC Myself?”

Monday, August 26th, 2019

The short answer to this is “no,” but we promise to elaborate.

Essentially, trying to scrape ice off of your air conditioner yourself could end up further damaging it, plus removing the ice doesn’t solve the problem that caused the ice buildup to begin with!

So, what does cause that ice buildup? It’s not a normal occurrence, despite your air conditioner cooling the air. We understand how it could be easy to believe that ice might be involved, but transferring heat from one place to another using refrigerant as an air conditioner does, does not use ice, and shouldn’t create it either.

Tags: Air Conditioning, Coral Springs, Refrigerant
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Wellington, FL Air Conditioning Tip: What Does Refrigerant Do?

Monday, July 22nd, 2013

When reading about air conditioning units, you may find that the word “refrigerant” comes up quite a bit. But what is refrigerant, and what purpose does it serve? In Wellington, FL, air conditioning plays a vital role in maintaining household comfort levels amid the sultry temperatures of summer. Refrigerants play a huge role in that. Understanding how is key to understanding why your air conditioning works the way it does.

Refrigerant is an essential part of the cooling cycle of your AC. As the refrigerant moves through the system between your indoor and outdoor unit, it absorbs the heat from warm air in your house and then releases it into the outdoors. As the refrigerant changes from a liquid to a gas, it’s temperature changes, and that is how your air conditioning system is able to cool the air in your home.

Refrigerants operate within a closed system in the air conditioning system, which prevents them from leaking out into the nearby environment. Theoretically, that means the refrigerant will last indefinitely. Unfortunately, air conditioners undergo wear and tear like any other mechanical system and refrigerant levels may run low over time. Leaks may develop in the system, releasing increasing amounts of coolant and necessitating repairs.

Despite their usefulness, refrigerants pose a health and environmental hazard if not properly handled. Air conditioning technicians receive formal training and certification in the handling of refrigerants, and know how to recharge your system properly when refrigerant levels run low.

For that reason, it’s important to call in a service technician for refrigerant issues rather than attempting to address the problem yourself. The trained professionals at Envirotech Air Quality Services can recharge your refrigerant, deal with leaks and maintain a regular maintenance program to keep your air conditioner in peak efficiency. We handle air conditioning in Wellington, FL and throughout the Palm Beach area. If you have any questions or concerns about refrigerant in your air conditioning unit, give us a call and schedule a service appointment today.

Tags: Air Conditioning, Refrigerant, Wellington
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Lake Worth, FL Air Conditioning FAQ: Why is My Refrigerant Low?

Tuesday, June 4th, 2013

Your AC producing cool air during the hot and humid Florida summer largely rests upon having the correct refrigerant charge flowing through your air conditioning components and coils. Refrigerant is chemically designed to produce radical temperature changes under pressurized conditions, and this property makes the AC process possible. Your AC is a closed system, and should not expend or lose refrigerant. This brings us to the subject of today’s blog post, which gives you some potential reasons for why your refrigerant is low. Call Envirotech Air Quality Services today for comprehensive Lake Worth, FL air conditioning services.

There are numerous symptoms of low refrigerant, including frosty coils, inadequate cooling and dehumidification, as well as damage to system components. But, generally speaking, there are really two reasons your refrigerant is low.

Improper installation: Unfortunately, if you didn’t hire a qualified technician to install your AC, then you may be at risk of low refrigerant. The “charge” of your refrigerant needs to be of a certain level to absorb and dissipate thermal energy. Refrigerant circulates within the various components, but if these were not properly fitted, or adjusted, then you cannot expect adequate cooling performance and energy efficiency.
Leak: The more probable reason why you have low refrigerant is because of a leak. While both the indoor and outdoor housing around the coils seek to protect them from physical damage, punctures do happen. Alternatively, if you have copper coils, they may be subject to pitting or corrosion. Also, weather and sand can cause erosion of the outdoor coils. If you notice a hissing sound in and around your AC unit, then this could be a small refrigerant leak.

Low refrigerant can affect any air conditioner, no matter how high-powered or energy efficient. If your AC is not operating as it should, or you think you might need repair, call for superior Lake Worth, FL air conditioning services from Envirotech Air Quality Services.

Tags: Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Repair, Lake Worth, Refrigerant, Wellington, West Palm Beach
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South Florida Air Conditioning Question: What is R410A?

Monday, April 2nd, 2012

If you’ve recently started researching a new air conditioner for your South Florida home, you may have run across “R410A” – a newer form of refrigerant increasingly being used in high end air conditioning equipment. What is R410A and why is it different from the existing refrigerant most air conditioners have?

Chemical Composition

R-410A is a composite of diflouromethane and pentafluoromethane. This mixture of R-32 and R-125 creates a new compound designed to be used in commercial and residential air conditioning devices. Sometimes referred to as Puron, Genetron and EcoFluor, R-410A is a more environmentally friendly approach to cooling than the existing coolant most air conditioners use – R-22.

To date, R-22 has been the refrigerant of choice for millions of devices. However, because R-22 will no longer be permitted in new devices starting in 2020, R-410A is growing in popularity rapidly and will soon become the standard refrigerant option in new devices.

Environmental Impact

Despite being very similar in chemical composition to other refrigerants like Freon and R-22, R-410A does not contribute to ozone depletion, a major step forward for air conditioning. However, it has as very similar global warming impact – producing nearly 1725% more damage than carbon dioxide. One of the factors that negates this high global warming risk is the fact that R-410A is being used in a more efficient manner than past refrigerants.

Choosing R-410A

You cannot simply replace the R-22 in your South Florida air conditioning system with R-410A. Because it requires higher pressure, the devices that run with R-410A must be built specifically for this refrigerant. As a result, many manufacturers are starting the transition to the new refrigerant now, in anticipation of the 2020 phase out date for R-22. If you are preparing to buy a new unit, keep this in mind.

If you have any questions about installing a new air conditioning system in South Florida, give Envirotech a call today!

Tags: Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Installation, Boca Raton, Lake Worth, Refrigerant, South Florida, Stuart
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