If the air conditioner is not cold, do I need to fill it with refrigerant? Full analysis of Taipei air-conditioning cleaning principles, pit avoidance guide and maintenance trends

Every hot summer, air conditioning becomes a life-saving straw for residents in the greater Taipei area. However, after a long period of non-use in autumn and winter, many people will encounter the following situation when turning on the air conditioner for the first time: the air conditioner emits a musty smell, or the room temperature remains high after running for a long time. At this time, many people's instinctive reaction is "the air conditioner is not cold anymore, it is time to find a water and electricity or air conditioning shop to fill the refrigerant." But you know what? This is actually one of the biggest "talking skills" and "IQ taxes" in the air-conditioning maintenance industry! In fact, more than 90% of air conditioners are not cold and it has nothing to do with the refrigerant. If you blindly fill the refrigerant without testing, it will not only waste money, but may also damage the compressor. This article will break down for you the real reasons why the air conditioner is not cold, the scientific principles of air conditioner cleaning, and the reasonable maintenance market in Taipei.

The biggest myth solved: Is refrigerant a disposable consumable?

Many people regard refrigerant as gasoline, thinking that it will "burn out" or "consume" after being used for a long time.
The refrigerant operation system of the air conditioner is a completely closed copper tube circulation loop. The refrigerant undergoes a physical phase change between gas and liquid inside the system, thereby absorbing indoor heat and discharging it to the outdoors. Under normal circumstances, as long as the copper pipe system is not damaged, cracked, or the joints are loose, the refrigerant "will never be consumed and does not need to be added." If the air conditioner is really not cool due to "refrigerant leakage", the correct approach is to first find the "leak point" and repair or replace the copper pipe, then vacuum and then "quantitatively fill" instead of simply "filling in refrigerant". If the technician comes to your home and doesn't even pick up the pressure gauge, he just says that he will charge for refrigerant filling. This is usually a trick to deceive consumers.

The four real culprits of the air conditioner not being cold

If it is not a lack of refrigerant, then why is the air conditioner not cold? It is usually caused by the following four reasons:
1. The filter and radiator (evaporator) are too dusty: This is the most common. When dust clogs the filter screen and evaporator aluminum fins of the indoor unit, air cannot pass smoothly, the heat exchange efficiency drops significantly, the air volume blown out will become smaller, and the air conditioner will naturally not be cold. This is also the source of musty smell from air conditioners and triggers allergies.
2. The air drum (wind wheel) of the indoor unit is full of dirt: The roller drum inside the detached indoor unit can easily accumulate lint and black mold. When the air drum is filled with dirt, its rotation efficiency and air output will be greatly reduced, and it may even cause freezing and dripping inside the air conditioner.
3. The cooling fins of the outdoor unit are too dirty: The outdoor unit is installed on the balcony or exterior wall and absorbs waste gas and sand dust in the air for many years. If the heat dissipation aluminum fins are covered with dirt and the heat cannot be dissipated, the compressor will activate the safety protection mechanism due to overheating and automatically shut down, causing only cold air to be blown out.
4. Aging failure of electrical parts: For example, the starting capacitor is burned out, the temperature sensor rod is faulty, or the motherboard is damaged by moisture. This requires professional maintenance and replacement parts.

Principles and Maintenance Effects of Air Conditioner Cleaning

For air conditioners that are not cold or smelly due to dust accumulation and mold, the most effective and fundamental solution is to make an appointment for "professional air conditioner cleaning". The cleaning process includes:
1. : Before construction, turn on the machine to test the temperature and current of the air outlet to confirm that there are no other hardware failures in the air conditioner.
2. : Use a special cleaning protective cover (water bag) to cover the indoor unit, and cover the surrounding furniture and walls with plastic sheeting.
3. : Remove the casing, filter, water tray (some models) and air guide plate.
4. : Spray environmentally friendly, non-toxic neutral aluminum cleaner to break down stubborn mildew and grease on the radiator and air drum, then rinse thoroughly with a high-pressure water gun.
5. : Some manufacturers will provide high-temperature steam sterilization with chlorine dioxide, spray anti-mildew coating, and finally put it back into the casing to test and air dry it.

A reasonable budget for air-conditioning cleaning and maintenance in Taipei area

The air-conditioning cleaning market in Taipei and New Taipei is usually calculated on a "unit" basis, and the cost is roughly as follows:
* About NT$ 1,200 to NT$ 2,000 / unit.
* About NT$ 1,800 to NT$ 3,000 / unit (usually includes air outlet temperature detection, water tray and wind wheel removal and cleaning).
* About NT$ 300 to NT$ 1,000 / unit (Cleaning the radiator of the outdoor unit will help reduce electricity consumption and save electricity bills).
* Due to the limited construction space and high difficulty, the cost is approximately NT$ 3,500 to NT$ 6,000 / unit.
【Pit Avoidance Reminder】
1. : After cleaning, some old air conditioners may be damaged by water ingress, causing damage to the electronic substrate. Qualified cleaning companies usually provide a "7 to 14 days warranty after cleaning", and if there is any dripping or malfunction, they will be repaired free of charge.
2. : May to August is the peak cleaning season. Not only is it difficult to schedule an appointment, but the price may also be higher. It is recommended to make a reservation in March, April or autumn every year, as there are often early bird discounts.