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Air Conditioning
FAQ's
ANSWER:
Poor cooling. If your system is still
putting out some cold air and the compressor is still engaged it
could be low on refrigerant, but there are still other
possibilities. Most new A/C systems will produce some cool air
with a 70% or better charge and a fully charged properly working
system will blow air that is 45-50 degrees F cooler than the
outside air temperature.
The only way to accurately determine the
amount of refrigerant in an A/C system is to use a set of A/C
gauges. The specifications vary from system to system but a
properly working system has a low side pressure between 20 to 35
psi and a high side pressure of 200 to 300 psi with an outside
air temp of 80 degrees F. The best way to find leaks in an A/C
system is with the aid of an ultra-violet dye and a black light.
New car A/C systems and older A/C
retrofit systems generally use R134a refrigerant and a PAG oil
to lubricate the system. PAG oils evaporate without leaving much
residue behind like the mineral oils in older A/C systems,
making A/C leaks harder to find. (Looking for oil stains on A/C
parts.) Variable displacement compressors, multi-speed electric
cooling fans, condenser designs, climate control designs,
sensors and computer controls all make proper diagnosis critical
before adding refrigerant.( And sometimes very tricky.)
Without proper knowledge a person could
cause a-lot of very costly damage to the A/C system, (I've seem
people cause $80.00-$1000.00 yes $1000.00 in additional
damage.), or cause injury or possibly death to themselves.
(Overcharged A/C systems can exceed pressures of 450 psi, you
don't want to be around it when something explodes.)
For these reasons you should always
have your A/C system checked be a certified A/C tech.
