Air conditioner refrigerant charge

Low air conditioner refrigerant charge is very common, and an important cause of low AC efficiency and higher cooling bills.

AC refrigerant Undercharging and overcharging

The AC refrigerant charge should match the manufacturer's specifications. Air conditioners and heat pumps shouldn't be either undercharged or overcharged.

Things you may do...

You may test for AC refrigerant leaks, using a leak detector, and you may also capture any leaking refrigerant (do not evacuate the refrigerant into the open; this is environmentally-unfriendly and illegal). But the determination of the proper amount of refrigerant and the filling of the system with the refrigerant should be done by a certified professional.

The determination of the exact AC refrigerant charge is very important and demands training, adequate tools and should take into account the technical standards specified by organisms like EPA.

Leaks

Air conditioner refrigerant undercharging can be due to several reasons. Dirty filters, faulty installation and leaks are the most common...

If an air conditioner (or a heat pump) is low on refrigerant, and if it leaks, adding refrigerant doesn't fix the problem. The technician should first fix possible leaks, and only then charge the system with the proper amount of refrigerant (double-checking and testing the repair).

Harmful to the environment

Most AC refrigerants are harmful to the environment, namely to the ozone layer. So, do not evacuate it into the open.