4 Symptoms of an Overcharged A/C System
Proper refrigerant charge is key for cold, efficient A/C, making it important to periodically charge a vehicle’s A/C system. Overcharging from DIY top-offs can occur, reducing cooling and compressor life. Read on to learn how to recognize the symptoms of AC overcharge, why it happens, and what you should do if it occurs (don’t ignore it!).
What Does an “Overcharged” A/C Mean?
Every A/C system ever assembled features a maximum charge rate, with those found in today’s vehicles being no different. This “maximum charge” details the full capacity of refrigerant that a particular system can accept.
Based on this knowledge, the idea of system overcharging is rather straightforward. An overcharged condition exists within an A/C system whenever an excessive amount of refrigerant has been introduced, generally equating to a total system charge exceeding that specified by the system’s manufacturer.
Whenever an A/C system is charged beyond its capacity, a number of troubling symptoms can arise, the bulk of which are detailed below. However, it suffices to say that an overcharged A/C system is largely incapable of operating at peak efficiency, much to the despair of any motorist reliant upon its functionality for comfort.
How Does It Happen?
A/C system overcharging commonly occurs whenever a vehicle’s owner attempts to charge the affected system themselves, using basic recharge kits that can be purchased from any auto parts store.
When using a kit of this nature, many find themselves limited in their ability to accurately gauge the amount of refrigerant that is being introduced. Furthermore, some kits come with little in the way of viable instructions.
Overcharged A/C Symptoms
The presence of too much freon within a vehicle’s A/C system is often accompanied by a host of secondary symptoms. Recognizing these symptoms can prove valuable when attempting to quickly remedy the situation at hand.
1) Warm Discharge Air
An overcharged A/C system seldom cools as it should, often discharging lukewarm air from the system’s vents. If you have recently had your vehicle’s refrigerant topped off, yet are not getting any relief from the heat, refrigerant overcharging could be to blame.
2) Odd Noises
If you have just had your vehicle’s air conditioning serviced, only to now notice strange sounds coming from beneath the vehicle’s hood, it might be a good idea to have the system’s refrigerant charge checked once more. System overcharging can cause an A/C compressor to struggle often causing an audible gurgling or whining sound.
3) Irregular Pressures
Overcharging of an A/C system often causes high-side system pressures to skyrocket. System overheating can also come as a result, adding further insult to injury and preventing any level of cooling from being achieved.
4) Freezing of Suction Line
Freezing of an A/C systems suction line can easily occur at the hands of slight overcharging. This takes place primarily when the heat load into the evaporator is rather minimal, and freezing system temperatures are achieved.
What To Do (car air conditioning problems)
In any event, the issue of overcharging within a vehicle’s A/C system must be promptly attended to. A lack of response by a vehicle’s owner can quickly lead to severe, and irreversible component damage. This, in turn, can necessitate additional expenditure on a motorist’s behalf, in order to reestablish full system functionality.
In short, one must bleed their vehicle’s A/C system, to achieve the desired charge rate.
Venting refrigerant into the atmosphere is highly-illegal, as freon is recognized by the EPA as an environmental pollutant.
Can Overcharging Damage the A/C Compressor?
Overcharging a vehicle’s A/C system can prove detrimental, if not catastrophic for the system’s compressor.
Significant damage to a vehicle’s A/C compressor not only requires replacement but often full-system overhaul as well. This is due to the high probability of system contamination as debris from a failed compressor is forced downstream. In any event, damage of this type is quite costly to remedy.