Once you notice that your air conditioner is not putting out the cool air that you need on those hot days, you may need to add freon to your air conditioning system. This is a task that you can do yourself with the proper safety items, tools and freon. Usually when you have to add freon, you have a leak in your air conditioning system.
The items that you will need are a protective mask, gloves, eye goggles, freon, a freon repair kit, temperature and pressure gauges and general tools. The entire process involves sealing the problem, replacing the leak and adding the refrigerant. Before beginning to do this project, you need to check your local laws that regulate freon use.
It is important to use the right freon and that information can be found on a label right on the unit. The freon repair kit that you will purchase will come with detailed directions to take you step by step so that they are very helpful to the novice in HVAC work.
Before starting any work, the AC Unit should be turned off. This also means shutting off the circuits temporarily. Be sure to wear your gloves, breathing mask, and goggles since freon can be harmful to you. Locate the leak by doing a total inspection to find that leak. Then wait five minutes after you attach the temperature gauge to achieve the correct reading. A temperature reading around and near 45 degrees should mean that you have sufficient coolant levels. If it is a higher temperature, it is probably because of a leak.
Next you have to connect gauges to the AC lines. By following the freon kit, the directions should direct you what lines and what gauges attach where. After locating the leak, you can begin the air conditioning system repair.
The next step is attaching your repair kit. Once you find the compressor, you need to seal that leak. This is when the can of sealant and injection hose need to be connected to the compressor lines. After this procedure, you can then seal the leak. First, you must turn on the power to the unit and have the system actually working. Allow the sealant to flow through your unit for one minute. This will let it work to patch up all leaks that will be there.
Then the system needs to be prepared to be recharged. The gauges should be reconnected and the freon container should be connected to the gauges by using hoses. Again, reconnect the temperature gauges.
Now the freon can be added. Release the valve on its container. Allow it to circulate in the air conditioning system for ten minutes. After this is properly accomplished, test the system for 15 to 20 minutes to know if it is cooling correctly. If not, more freon may be needed or there may still be a leak. Then an HVAC professional should be contacted for more searching and repairing.
