You've Got Gas!

It is extremely common for the heating and air guy (especially in Chattanooga and North Georgia) to hear from the homeowner, “I think its low on gas.”  By gas the homeowner means refrigerant and the “low on gas” comment means the HVAC performance is sub-par.  Or maybe not sub-par, but it isn’t performing to the owner’s expectations.

Let us breakdown what exactly the issue is in very pragmatic terms:
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Homeowner- You
Me: HVAC Guy
Your Home’s Location: Chattanooga, Rossville, Cleveland, Ringgold, Etc...
Your Comment: “I think its low on gas
Problem: Not conditioning air properly
 
Now before we start to dive into specifics, understand a few things.  Mainly, don’t act like this is a, “putting gas into a car type of situation.”  It definitely is not.  Gasoline may provide combustion to move components to put your car into motion, but gas (again, refrigerant) does not provide the energy to make your system move or turn on.  Your system’s energy that makes the components function electrically is actually ran off just that, electricity.  Yes, that is right, it’s your power bill.
 
Also, this gas (or liquid) needs to be put in by a trained person.  That person needs to account for Super-Heated Vapor and Sub-Cooled Liquid.  They also need to pull vacuums and do brazing.  They also have to follow very VERY specific EPA guidelines.  ..and a lot more!
 
Now, if the system is powered by electricity what is the “gas (refrigerant)” for?  Yes, that is right again.  It is used to cool, and in some cases it heats coils that air passes over to supply conditioned air to your house.
 
See, refrigerants aren’t just air, or liquids.  They are, at different points in time during the refrigeration process, both.  Pressure and its influence on this gas produces liquids and gases.  Heat is exchanged during the evaporation (evaporation coil) and condensing (condensing coil).  Now, the process is a little more complicated than that, but this is very basic.
 
When you think your unit needs some more gas, and it very well may, know that this “gas” isn’t gas at all.  It is however, a substance that, depending on its pressure could be either gas or liquid.
 
Now, if in fact your system does require some refrigerant to be added to it, you likely have a leak.  Granted, all systems leak down.  Refrigerant leaks out through the metal.  It will leak out through brazing material.  It will also leak out through service ports.  But there is a distinct difference between an exceptionally slow leak vs a leak that, as you put in refrigerant, it comes right back out.  Those leaks need to be repaired.
 
Some Heating and Air Companies have no issue with shooting expensive refrigerant into a leaking system.  I mean, business ethics aside, you have to call them back out AND they then get to charge you more money for more work.  We do not do that.  We operate with high standards and would never cause a customer to recklessly spend unnecessary money.
 
Having someone to trust in Chattanooga, Rossville, Lafayette, Hixson, or wherever you live to come service your unit is important.  Keep in mind this stuff isn’t cheap but we can make it affordable.  In other words, we would love to give you some gas!  www.indoorairsolutionsga.com

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