How to Troubleshoot Refrigeration Bubbles in Sight Glass
Many types of devices --- such as air-conditioning units in cars and homes --- require refrigerant. These devices often have a sight glass, which is essentially a small, reinforced window. A sight glass can be used to visually determine problems in a refrigeration device, notably the level of refrigerant. Seeing bubbles in a sight glass is one of the indications that there is a problem with the refrigerant level that needs to be addressed.
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Let your unit warm up. Units that have just started working or are under a low load may show bubbles, and this is normal. In fact, seeing bubbles upon start-up may indicate that the refrigeration fluid level is above the level of the sight glass, which is generally good.
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Observe the fluid through the sight glass once the unit is warmed up. If you still see bubbles, this is an indication of a low refrigerant charge or low fluid levels. Note that some types of units must be read under certain conditions to get an accurate assessment; check your owner's manual or call the manufacturer to see if your unit has this requirement.
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Add refrigerant if necessary.
References
Warnings
- If a unit has another way to check refrigeration fluid levels, use it. Having too much fluid is harmful and seeing bubbles in a sight glass is not a sure indicator that there is a problem.
Photo Credits
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