Refrigerant circulates continuously as an air conditioner is running. It absorbs heat, releases it outdoors, and allows your AC to deliver cool air to your home. An air conditioner refrigerant leak can prevent your AC from producing cool air. Numerous other effects are also possible. Therefore, it’s important to know when coolant may be leaking.
Why Is an Air Conditioner Refrigerant Leak Bad?
A refrigerant leak is a serious situation on three levels:
- Air Conditioners: A lack of refrigerant can force the unit to work harder, cause the coils to freeze, and result in a complete system breakdown and major repair work.
- The Environment: Many ACs still use CFC-based coolants known to deplete the ozone layer. Some newer compounds contribute to global warming, meaning an old unit with a leak is an environmental hazard.
- People: Refrigerant should only be handled by a professional. It can cause poisoning with symptoms like headache, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, coughing, and eye, ear, and throat irritation. In severe cases, it can cause loss of consciousness, seizures, coma, or death.
Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Refrigerant?
An AC refrigerant leak should be fixed as soon as possible. Signs your AC may have a coolant leak include:
- A Lack of Cooling: Low refrigerant levels prevent heat transfer, so your air conditioner can’t work effectively. At first, the unit may take longer to cool your home. Eventually, it may not be able to regulate air temperature at all.
- The AC Runs Longer: Your AC should turn on and off at regular intervals. If it’s blowing air through the vents for longer and still lagging behind the thermostat setting, an air conditioner refrigerant leak may be the culprit.
- Poor Airflow: The airflow may be low, yet the air blowing from the vents is cold. A coolant leak prevents the unit from producing as much cold air. A technician uses advanced leak detection methods to rule out other causes and find the exact source of the leak.
- It’s Humid Inside: A refrigerant leak diminishes an AC’s ability to dehumidify the air. If your home is warm and muggy, the air conditioner may be leaking coolant or Freon.
- The Electric Bill Has Skyrocketed: As the amount of refrigerant depletes, the system will work harder and use more energy. It will show as a higher electric bill. Rates may change seasonally, but if the bill is much higher than from the same month last year, call a repair professional.
- Frozen Evaporator Coils: If the coils can’t absorb heat, condensation on them can freeze. When it’s hot outside and you see frost or ice on the coils, chances are there’s a leak. Melting ice can cause water to fill up the drain pan until it overflows, potentially causing water damage to your HVAC system and home.
- Bubbles: A hole in the leaking evaporator coil can form tiny bubbles. This is why HVAC technicians often call the situation a “champagne leak”.
- Hissing: An air conditioner can make a hissing sound for many reasons. It can originate from a small hole or crack in the coil. A louder gurgling noise is a sign of a larger hole.
What Causes an Air Conditioner Refrigerant Leak?
Refrigerant leaks often start small and their effects may be barely noticeable at first. They can be caused by corroded copper tubes that weaken and develop holes. A loose joint or connection can leak refrigerant. Leaks may also occur due to wear and tear, a factory defect, or incorrect installation.
Contact Sky Heating & Air Conditioning
Many symptoms can indicate there’s an air conditioner refrigerant leak. They can point to other problems as well. At Sky, our technicians are equipped with the latest diagnostic technology to identify the problem and complete an AC repair. We provide 24-hour service and respond to all types of AC emergencies. To schedule AC repair or replacement in the Portland area, contact us online or call (888) 961-4282 now.