Not all AC Unit Check-Ups Are the Same
If your AC system is low on refrigerant it’s not going to work as well and will be more expensive to operate. When the system is low, normally it’s caused by a leak, which is something that a routine check can catch early and keep from being a problem in the middle of the Summer.
What people don’t normally think about, even HVAC technicians, is that every time you hook up a set of gauges to a system during a service call for a routine check, the hoses will hold a certain amount of refrigerant; usually 3 to 4 ounces, that just gets lost. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but consider that over a few years of service that could amount to a pound or more.
Some of the newer systems uses Micro channel coils the use a lot less Freon in a system. So 3 or4 ounces will make a difference. This is why we use wireless gauges for all routine checks. In fact unless we are actively charging a system we use wireless gauges which do not have hoses and therefore do not waste refrigerant.
Regular filter changes and routine maintenance are the best things you can do to make sure that your system operates as efficiently as possible and is reliable when you need it the most.
