Refrigerant is an all-important substance that flows throughout your heat pump system and transfers heat into and out of your home. Without enough refrigerant your heat pump will not be able to adequately heat or cool your home. Here are a few indications that the heat pump in your Harvey, LA home might be low on refrigerant.
Gurgling or Bubbling Noises
This is the most common audible sign of insufficient refrigerant. Refrigerant travels through heat pumps in gaseous form via the refrigerant lines, and when there isn’t enough of the substance to fill the lines, air bubbles can form. These are what create the gurgling sounds.
Poor Performance
Though many things may cause your heat pump to perform poorly or inefficiently, a low refrigerant level is usually the first indicator when it isn’t heating or cooling properly. While your system is in heating mode, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the air in your home and deposits it outside after condensing, and it does the opposite while the system is in cooling mode. If your system isn’t heating or cooling your home well, low refrigerant may be the reason why.
Pooling Liquid
If your heat pump’s compressor malfunctions, the refrigerant may not be able to remain in gaseous form when it should. This is one of the main reason for regular maintenance visits from a technician. They will carefully inspect your heat pump to ensure there isn’t a refrigerant leak.
Refrigerant is a dangerous substance, and no one who does not have professional training should ever attempt to handle it. If you suspect a leak, call a professional HVAC technician and ask them to check and refill your system with refrigerant. They will also try to determine if and when there may be a leak. They should do so when repairing or as part of a tune-up.
Low refrigerant levels dramatically affect how your heat pump functions, so it’s always wise to schedule regular maintenance appointments. Call Caribbean Breeze Heating & Cooling in Harvey, LA and ask for our HVAC repair services or maintenance services to make sure your heat pump keeps working at optimal efficiency.
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