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5 Signs Your AC Unit May Be Low on Refrigerant

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If your AC hasn’t been working optimally, low refrigerant is often the first culprit. Here are five common signs that may indicate your AC is running low on refrigerant.

Refrigerant is the lifeblood of your air conditioner. Ideally, your AC shouldn’t need more refrigerant because it isn’t getting used up. Therefore, low refrigerant is usually an indication of a leak.

If your AC hasn’t been working optimally, low refrigerant is often the first culprit. Here are five common signs that may indicate your AC is running low on refrigerant.

st. louis hvac technician working on air conditioner
Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC
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I have complete trust in Thomas Hoffman AC . I have had multipletechnicians who are always polite and knowledgeable.
Response from the owner: Thank you for your trust in our team, Henry! We appreciate your kind words about our technicians.
Just had our annual service on our furnace. The technician was very professional, friendly, thorough and spent time explaining what all he did and what his recommendations were going forward. Couldn't be happier. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THOMAS HOFFMAN AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING.
Response from the owner: Terry, we're so grateful for your kind words and for recommending us! We're thrilled to hear that you had a positive experience with our technician during your annual furnace service. Thank you for choosing Thomas Hoffman Air Conditioning and Heating!
Zachary was very professional and friendly and we would be happy to have him return to work on our furnace again in the future!
Response from the owner: Stephanie, we're so happy to hear that Zachary provided you with professional and friendly service! We look forward to working with you again in the future!
Excellent! Highly recommended
Response from the owner: Udis, we truly appreciate your recommendation!
I called on a Monday morning as air conditioning was blowing warm air. They were able to come to my house very early afternoon and fixed the problem. Would highly recommend and will use them again.
Response from the owner: Becky thank you so much for your great review. We appreciate your business and your kind words.
This company is so responsive to me that I love them. They respond immediately and I trust them. It always cost me, but that is the nature of the beast. I haven’t been steered wrong yet. They are genuinely nice to work with and honest. I use their maintenance program as well. Highly recommend.
Response from the owner: Thank you for your kind words, we truly appreciate your trust in us and are glad to hear about your positive experience with our services.
They were outstanding and got us cool very quickly.
Response from the owner: Bill, we're so glad we could help you out quickly! Thank you!
Great job done quickly and I loved how they were on time. Thank you for providing great customer service.
Response from the owner: Myrtle, we're so glad you're happy with our service. Thank you for your kind words!
Giovanni was good…. This is reason we ask for him
Response from the owner: Thanks so much!
Zac and Giovanni are always extremely polite, considerate and professional. We are thrilled to have the new A/C unit. Our unit was 18 years old and stopped working in the thick of 100 degree weather. Tom (the owner) came over within an hour (after hours) and bought us time by changing out some parts until we could have the new one installed. We’re very happy with Thomas Hoffmann A/C and Heating!
Response from the owner: Katie, we're delighted that Zac, Giovanni, and Tom were able to assist you promptly and effectively during the heatwave. Thank you for choosing Thomas Hoffmann A/C and Heating!
Honest takes his time to listen and help you without charging Arm and a leg
Response from the owner: Thank you so much for your kind words, Carrie! We truly appreciate your feedback.
Couldn't be happier with our experience. Our AC stopped working after typical hours and they were the only "24/7" HVAC service who was able to come out same day. Not only were they fast, but they identified and fixed the problem immediately and did some preventative maintenance (and showed me how to do it) to prevent it from happening again. Will absolutely use them again in the future.
Response from the owner: We're so glad to hear about your positive experience, Hannah White! Thank you for choosing us and we look forward to helping you again in the future.
Great service! Prompt, polite and got the job done quickly.
Response from the owner: We're so happy to hear that you had a great experience with us! Thank you for your kind words.
Thomas Hoffman personally quoted the job at a fair price and they did a quality install! I would highly recommend them!
Response from the owner: Thank you for recommending us, Joe! We appreciate your feedback and are glad you were satisfied with our service!
Came same day and fixed the problem.
Response from the owner: Thank you for your feedback! Glad we could help you out the same day.
Caught in a bind one evening (no AC), I called for an appointment to get mine repaired. They came out the next morning, one half hour early! Within 30 minutes we back up and running!! Thank you, Thomas Hoffman. You are my guys!
Response from the owner: Thank you for choosing us, Sue! We're glad we could help you out quickly and get your AC up and running smoothly again! Thomas Hoffman and the team appreciate your kind words!
Blower went out on a Sunday. They answered my call, got me in, replaced blower, very easy!
Response from the owner: We're so glad we could assist you with your blower on a Sunday! Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
Thomas is amazing and came over in only a couple hours and fixed my ac! True life saver 🙏🏼
Response from the owner: Thank you for sharing your experience with Thomas! We're glad to hear he was able to help you out quickly and efficiently. 👍
Fantastic experience! Our AC went out on a scorching Saturday evening. I wasn’t actually expecting anybody to get out that night, but when calling - I immediately got an answer, was on the schedule in 5 minutes, and Thomas showed up an hour later. He was honest, professional, and educational. Most importantly, I didn’t feel like he was cutting corners or trying to get in and out… a welcome contrast from most services these days. 6 stars out of 5, highly recommend.
Response from the owner: Thank you for sharing your experience, Andrew! We're so glad to hear that Thomas provided such honest and professional service for your AC needs. We truly appreciate your recommendation and look forward to serving you again in the future.
Service technician came out to fix our problem within 2 hours of my call. Fixed the problem. Was excellent.
Response from the owner: Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We're glad we could resolve the issue promptly for you. Thank you for your continued support of Thomas Hoffmann AC and Heating!
Our air conditioner stopped working & left us in this unbearable heat. Thomas Hoffman air conditioning & heating came to the rescue and saved the day!! We can't thank you enough. We highly recommended his services.
Response from the owner: We are so grateful we could help during the unbearable heat. Thank you for recommending our services!
A/C went out after hours. Company came out with no hesitation and got us going right away. Excellent service and would recommend to anyone that has the need.
Response from the owner: We're so grateful for your kind words and glad we could help you out when your A/C went out after hours. Thank you for recommending us!
We have complete trust in Thomas Hoffman AC. They have helped us several times over the years with hard to diagnose issues with our geothermal heat pump and traditional HVAC. They are competent, courteous and very easy to schedule .
Response from the owner: We appreciate your trust in us, Maria Grazia! It's great to hear about your positive experiences with our services. Thank you for your kind words!
The service technicians are very courteous and communicate well with the customer. They let you know what, if any, problems are found, the options, and the cost of the repair(s). Quick and efficient.
Response from the owner: Thank you for recognizing our service technicians' courteous and effective communication, we appreciate your feedback!
Nick came on SUNDAY when my a/c quit. He fixed the problem quickly and the price was reasonable. Great customer service.
Response from the owner: Thank you for sharing your experience, Sherri! We're glad we could help with your a/c and provide great customer service at a reasonable price. We appreciate your business!
Called Thomas Hoffmann HVAC and received service very quickly, nick came out the next day and repaired my issue quickly. Really appreciate their service and would recommend to anyone in kirkwood!
Response from the owner: Thank you for choosing Thomas Hoffmann HVAC! We're glad we could promptly address and resolve your HVAC issue. Appreciate your recommendation!
Excellent Service. Thank you Zackery
Response from the owner: Thank you for your kind words, Buzz! It was a pleasure assisting you.
Excellent service! I called Thomas Hoffman A/C & Heating at 8pm and they had us back up and going before bedtime! Great company!
Response from the owner: We're so glad we could assist you quickly! Thank you for choosing Thomas Hoffman A/C & Heating!
Came quickly and was awesome to talk to. Quick and had all the parts on hand. Wouldn’t use anyone else.
Response from the owner: Thank you for your kind words, Brendan! We're glad to hear that you had a positive experience with us. We appreciate your support!
We recently had no a/c during a heat advisory. Thomas Hoffmann AC and Heating did a great job getting us back up and running and helped us make the most cost effective decisions on the fix.
Response from the owner: Thank you for sharing your experience, we're glad we could help you during a challenging time. Thank you for your continued support, Don!
Thomas came to the rescue when our AC went out when it was 100 degrees out! He arrived a few hours after placing an after hours call and quickly diagnosed the problem. He had our AC unit back up and running within an hour so my family could sleep in a cool house. I highly recommend Thomas Hoffmann for anyone needing AC services!
Response from the owner: Thank you for sharing your experience, Lindsay! So glad Thomas could help get your AC up and running smoothly again for your family's comfort. Your recommendation means a lot!
Thomas Hoffman repaired our furnace in this past winter and A/C this summer. Job well done in both instances. Thank you!
Response from the owner: Thank you for trusting us with your furnace and A/C repairs, Jennifer! We appreciate your kind words and are glad we could help.
Our technician Zach was friendly and did a very thorough job. He even called me ahead of our appointment to let me know he might be a little later than anticipated. Would highly recommend.
Response from the owner: Thank you for recommending us, we appreciate your kind words and are glad to hear about your positive experience with Zach.
Great experience. Nick diagnosed the issue quickly (unit making annoying noise). Nick was speedy in the repair, and also made a courtesy follow-up visit. Nick provided excellent technical expertise, customer service and communication. Nick was chill and friendly, and overall pried and exceptional customer experience.
Response from the owner: Thank you for sharing your experience, Jon! We appreciate your kind words and are glad to hear that Nick was able to provide you with excellent service.
I am very pleased with the service provided., especially the quick response to my request . The technician came on a Sunday morning and had my cooling system repaired within an hour. Thank you !
Response from the owner: We're delighted we could promptly assist you on a Sunday morning and fix your cooling system efficiently. Thank you!
Great job explaining the situation they were early and notified me on estimated arrival time. Great customer service and reasonable prices as well will definitely use again for personal and business.
Response from the owner: Thank you for the kind words! We're glad to hear that you were pleased with our service and pricing. Looking forward to serving you again soon!
Top notch company
Response from the owner: Thank you for your kind words, Greg! We appreciate your feedback!
Nick Hoffmann with Thomas Hoffmann Heating and Cooling is top notch. He is a true professional with friendly service. They do service, repair, and installation. They have a lot of years of experience and always look for the best way to help each and every customer. Please give Nick a call today for all of your heating and cooling needs.
Response from the owner: Thank you for recognizing Nick's professionalism and friendly service, we appreciate your kind words and are glad to hear about your positive experience with us!
We used Thomas Hoffman Air Conditioning to service our Hot Water Heater and plan on using them in the future for maintenance program.
Response from the owner: Thank you so much for your great review. We appreciate your business.
Fast response and quick resolution
Response from the owner: Thank you for your feedback! We're glad we could help you quickly.
Quick to respond, very open and honest about what was wrong with good recommendations. We will continue to use them for all our HVAC needs
Response from the owner: Thank you for your kind words and for choosing us for your HVAC needs! We appreciate your trust and look forward to continuing to serve you.
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Air Coming from the Vents Isn’t Cold

Generally, air conditioners absorb heat from the room, cool it off, and blow out cool air. However, if there isn’t enough refrigerant, your air conditioner won’t absorb as much heat and will likely interfere with your AC’s cooling capabilities.

Ice or Frost Forming on Your AC Lines

If you see ice forming on the refrigerant lines of your AC, there’s generally a leak in the unit. A leak in the unit results in low refrigerant creating low pressure in the unit, and the evaporator coil becomes much cooler than normal, thereby freezing moisture along its lines.

Hissing or Bubbling Noise From the AC

Some modern AC units have sound-dampening technology to help reduce annoying noises from the unit. Therefore, persistent hissing or bubbling noises coming from your AC could mean your AC has a refrigerant leak.

Common places in an AC unit that can dissipate noise are the refrigerant line or the compressor valve. Fortunately, our experienced HVAC technicians can help determine what is causing the noise. Typically, a hissing noise from the unit may indicate that the refrigerant is leaking in gas form. At the same time, a bubbling sound could indicate that the refrigerant is leaking in liquid form.

The Temperature You Set Is Not Attained

You may notice that your AC unit has been running for a long time, however, the room isn’t getting any cooler. This could be an indication that the unit is running low on refrigerant. As we’ve mentioned, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the air in the room. Therefore, if there isn’t enough refrigerant, the heat keeps circulating through without being absorbed and could be the reason why the temperature you set is not attained.

Abnormally High Electricity Bill

An increase in your electricity bill is a cause for concern. Low refrigerant in the AC system will generally result in a higher energy bill.

If there isn’t enough refrigerant, the AC unit isn’t dumping off as much heat as it should per cooling cycle. Then, the system has to run for longer to reach the temperature that you’ve set. If the system runs for longer, it consumes more energy, leading to a high electricity bill. Regular servicing by our technicians ensures that the AC is in good working condition and will also save you some money in the long run.

St. Louis Air Conditioning & Heating

If you have concerns that your AC is running low on refrigerant, contact Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating. Our qualified technicians can offer an accurate and thorough assessment of your AC unit and ensure it’s in good condition.

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At Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating, we pride ourselves in being a locally owned and operated HVAC company. With more than 30 years of experience and a master technician and mechanical engineer as our owner, we can replace, repair, and provide maintenance for your business or home’s HVAC system.

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