Procedures for Charging Air-Conditioners

Air Conditioner Systems

• Air-conditioning systems consist of a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator and a liquid refrigerant material. A liquid refrigerant converts into a gas and then back into a liquid, which is what happens when an air conditioner absorbs heat and expels cool air in its place. The compressor device compresses heat-filled fluid into a gas and then sends it to the condenser device. The condenser cools the gas, converts it back into liquid form and sends it to the evaporator. The evaporator converts the cooled liquid back into gas and expels cool air into the environment. It uses the heat in the environment to convert the liquid into gas, which starts the cycle all over again. Since air conditioners need a certain amount of liquid refrigerant to carry out these processes, recharging a system involves replacing lost refrigerant fluid.

Car Air Conditioners

• As refrigerant fluid flows through an air-conditioning system, it remains intact as a material. This means systems with low refrigerant levels have a leak or faulty component that allow refrigerant to escape. Charging a car’s air-conditioning system involves “topping off” the system’s refrigerant level, which replaces lost fluid. Another option entails flushing and recharging or refilling a system’s refrigerant fluid, which may include recycling or cleaning impurities out of the refrigerant material. A flush and refill service may also include a system inspection to determine where fluid losses occur. In the process of charging a system, refrigerant gases can evaporate into the air. Federal regulations forbid the release of refrigerant gases into the environment, so anyone who takes a do-it-yourself approach may want to look into ways to contain and properly dispose of refrigerant materials.

Window Air Conditioners

• When a window air conditioner starts to blow out warm or less cool air, charging the unit may restore a normal cool air flow. Charging the unit involves replacing the existing refrigerant using an air-conditioner recharge kit. These kits come with a can of refrigerant attached to two valves that connect with the air-conditioner’s compressor device. The procedure requires removal of the unit’s metal casing in order to access the compressor hoses. Once the valves are attached to the hoses, turning the air conditioner on enables the refrigerant to flow into the unit. The process completes once the can of refrigerant empties into the unit.

Home Air Conditioners

• Central air-conditioner systems work through a network of ducts and vents situated throughout a home or building. As a result, charging these systems also requires a full system inspection to correct for possible leaks or faulty system parts. Also of concern are the federal regulations concerning the proper disposal of refrigerant materials, which involve hefty fines when violated. Causes for system malfunctions can result from worn fan belts, dust debris on system coils or blocked refrigerant lines. Unless a person has experience in working with heating and cooling systems, charging a central air-conditioner system requires the expertise of a licensed service technician.