We are planning on having a new concrete patio poured in a couple of weeks and need to move our AC unit to make way for the slab. Is it possible for a layman to pump down the refrigerant and move the unit or do I need to pay someone to do this for me?
Pump down the refrigerant from an air conditioner theself
air-conditioninghvac
Related Solutions
You may be looking at the problem backwards, the freezing lines could be a symptom of the problem not the cause. Start by looking for blockages in the system that would cause lower air flow / heat exchange.
- Dirty filters.
- Clogged ducts.
- Closed dampers.
- Closed/Blocked vent covers.
- Dirty coils.
Basically if the system cannot exchange the heat/cold, it will not function properly and could lead to over heating/cooling.
Frozen lines could also be caused by high or low levels of refrigerant, so you'll want to get a service person out to check the refrigerant levels.
Here is a really good image to visualize how it works.
Too small a temperature swing on the thermostat can cause this issue as well. Many electronic thermostats have an adjustable temperature swing of 0.5, 1, 2 degrees. If this value is set too low and the compressor is restarted too soon (less than 10-15 minutes) after a cycle, it can trip a breaker as the compressor struggles to start against a pressurized system. This setting is also known as differential, anticipation, or hysteresis.
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Best Answer
Unless you are an abnormally equipped layman, no. Even then, there may be a legal requirement (depending where you are) for this to be done by a licensed A/C service person, as regulations around refrigerants have become much more stringent over the years, trying to limit uncontrolled releases to atmosphere.