How To Recharge A Window Air Conditioner? 3 Easy Steps!

Do you know how to recharge a window air conditioner? Dear, pull up your sleeves do some work with your air conditioner with the help of Freon. But wait. Maybe you are asking why do you need to recharge your air conditioner? Is it depleting its “battery”? Of course not! Air conditioners don’t have batteries.

Everything gets old, and time defines the performance of everything. As your air conditioner gets old, its ability to give off cool air becomes mediocre. Why? Surely, the clogged dust in the filter, the broken compressor, and the choice of location can greatly cause the air conditioner to lower down its performance. However, a leakage in the compressor can also be of high consideration as the culprit.

how to recharge a window air conditioner

 

Steps To Recharge A Window Air Conditioner

You don’t have to buy a new air conditioner if your air conditioner seems to miss its job. A Freon kit would end up your misery while causing you not much of your money. Luckily, in the United States, it is legal to recharge your air conditioner using Freon.

However, you need to get a professional technician to do the task of recharging as you abide by what the law requires. In this section, we will look at closely the steps how to recharge a window air conditioner.

 

Step #1. Check the problem

The most evident reason why your air conditioner seems to give off not-so-cold air is that there is something wrong with the refrigerant. How could you be so sure that your air conditioner does not cool properly as it is originally designed? You can’t just be sure basing on how you feel, right? So, utilize the use of a thermometer. First, measure the room temperature. Next, place the thermometer to the air handler for a minute, then take note of these values.

Solve the difference between these two. If the answer would be greater than 20 degrees Fahrenheit, then you can say that there’s nothing wrong with the refrigerant. However, if the answer would be 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit, then the refrigerant probably has leakage. A value lesser than 10 degrees Fahrenheit is an indication that there is a more serious problem with your air conditioner. This time you have to consult an HVAC professional technician.

 

Step #2. Identify where the leak comes from

First, of course, you have to plug it out and unmount it from the window. Choose a place where you can do a bulky task – yes, this one is. Remove the panel of your air conditioner. It can be done by just using your two bare hands, or it may require you to use a screwdriver. If you see a component that is like a car battery and probably tinted black, then that’s the compressor.

Attached to the compressor are two magnificent lines that go to the mainframe of the air conditioner. These are known as refrigerant lines where high pressure is manifested. Next, in detecting where the leak comes from, there are several methods for doing that. If you already have located the source of leakage, then consider the measure of heat energy in Btu. If you have 15, 000 Btu or lower than that, then that qualifies the use of Freon kit to fix your problem.

 

Step #4. Use Freon to fix the problem

First, make sure to study the air conditioner’s specification, especially the kind of refrigerant it has. It’s a good thing if the technician you hired already has a complete set of equipment to utilize Freon. Next, between the two refrigerant lines, there is only one where you can add Freon.

It is typically the larger one, or if you are fortunate enough to purchase an air conditioner that indicates the area where to add Freon, then that’s great. After you locate it, connect a tap valve there. The specified instructions are usually indicated in the documents of the valve you have purchased. Carefully follow it. Next, you have to know that the leak in the refrigerant lines also caused some air to accumulate inside. Your subsequent job is to release this unwanted air.

Properly attach the tubes to the refrigerant, as instructed. Set the air conditioner to the max for 3-5 minutes to make the lingering Freon flowing. After this, you may now connect the Freon container to its designated tube. Make sure to fit it snugly. Then, it is time for you now to open the Freon valve. Loosen up the valve where the Freon container is attached for at least 2 seconds.

This will completely put all the air out from the refrigerant lines. Lastly, to fill in the refrigerant lines with Freon, all you have to do is to open the gauge’s valves. Commonly, the time when you need to stop the recharging is when the pressure gauge touches 70 psi. Disconnect everything and seal the openings, then you’re done!

 

Final Words

At the end of this article, I hope that you have learned how to recharge a window air conditioner. Thank you so much for reading up to this point. Your time and effort are much appreciated!

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