Air conditioners are great at cooling our homes. In fact, they’re one of the most popular home appliances these days. However, every time you use your AC, it requires maintenance and an occasional refill of refrigerant. You see, air conditioners produce a large amount of humidity during operation. And just like any other appliance that produces a liquid, your air conditioner needs to be refilled to continue working effectively afterward. This is where gas top-ups come in. But how often should you top up your unit? And what are the hidden costs associated with doing so? Read on to find out…
What is Air Conditioning Gas Top-Up Service?
Air Conditioning top-up services are the process of refilling refrigerant in your air conditioner. Refrigerant is a chemical compound that can absorb energy and turn it into heat. The top-up service is usually done by a technician or a company that specializes in this field. This is also known as re-refrigerant charging. In a top-up, the recharge process is essentially the same as compressing air. Your air conditioner is essentially like a vacuum cleaner that sucks in refrigerant and condenses it back out as cold air. At the end of the process, your air conditioner will be refilled with the appropriate amount of refrigerant. If the air conditioner is less than halfway drained, it will be fully charged in a single session. If the air conditioner is more than half-empty, it will take multiple sessions and a few days for your AC to be fully recharged.
Why Should You Have Your Air Conditioning Serviced for a Top-Up?
There are many reasons to have your air conditioning service topped up. Our ACs get clogged up with dirt and dust. This can result in reduced efficiency. Top-ups help clean out your AC, ensuring it can work at its maximum capacity. When you have your AC serviced for a top-up, you will also receive a check-up on your system. This is crucial for ensuring that your air conditioning unit has no issues that may cause it to break down and fail. Before your air conditioning service is topped up, you should also have your air conditioner cleaned. This prevents dust and dirt from accumulating in your unit and causing it to work harder.
Types of Air Conditioning Gas Top Ups
Full Charge:
Full Charge is the process of refilling your air conditioner with a full charge of refrigerant. It is a straight-up full recharge.
No Charge:
No Charge is a partial charge. It is when your technician charges your air conditioner less than a full charge.
Partial Charge:
A partial Charge is a charge between a 50% and a 25% recharge.
When Should You Have an Air Conditioning Gas Top Up?
You should have your AC serviced for a top-up when the level of humidity in the air is above 80%. This is important for ensuring effective cooling. Your AC will also need to be serviced for a top-up when you notice the following signs. They include:
* The AC is working longer than usual.
* The AC is not cooling to the desired temperature.
* The AC has been used continuously for a long time.
Disadvantages of Air Conditioning Gas Top Ups
Before considering having your air conditioning serviced for a top-up, you must weigh the benefits against the disadvantages. Here are some of them.
** More Expensive: As mentioned above, your air conditioning service costs money. So, you will have to budget for it.
** AC Takes Time to Recharge Fully: In order to get a full charge, your unit will have to be completely drained and filled up again. So, it’s completely dependent on the air conditioner. In fact, your air conditioner could take a few days or even weeks to fully recharge.
** Need to Have the AC Serviced: You may need to schedule an appointment with your HVAC technician to have your air conditioning serviced for a top-up.
Final Words: Is a Good Air Conditioning Gas Topping Up Worth It?
A top-up service is an important part of maintaining your air conditioning unit. If you leave it for a long time, it could break down on account of accumulated dirt and dust. And if this happens, your AC will not be able to cool the house. Keeping your air conditioner serviced for a top-up will ensure that it’s working at its peak capacity. This could save you from having to replace your AC unit if it breaks down. So, it is definitely worth it! There is no one-size-fits-all solution for how often your air conditioning should be serviced. This depends on a variety of factors, including the age and condition of your air conditioner, the amount of dust in your home, and the amount of moisture in the air. With that said, servicing your air conditioner once a year is a good idea. You can schedule this for the middle of summer when you might be enjoying the AC the most. And do not forget about the bottom of the stairs; they often get a lot of dust from the carpet.