When Are Refrigerant Leak Repairs Needed?
Troubleshooting an air conditioner is a skill that everyone needs to a degree. When owners understand the basics about their air conditioners, they can be empowered to attempt minor fixes or maintenance by themselves or, at the very least, provide valuable information to the technician who comes for repairs. When diagnosing refrigerant leaks, ultimately, it will be a technician with special tools who makes the call.
Still, there are signs that the owner should look out for so they can inform the technician of the possibility of a refrigerant leak. Here are three signs of refrigerant leaks and what causes them.
Frozen Evaporator Coils
Air conditioners work by allowing refrigerant to evaporate inside of a metal coil in the blower cabinet. When refrigerant evaporates, it makes the coil very cold, so indoor air blown across it will exchange its heat and transport the chilled air around the home. This process occurs by keeping refrigerant under very specific pressures, and when leaks form, the equilibrium may be thrown off to the point that the cool gets too cold. When the coil is too cold, the moisture in the air freezes in the coil. Once a layer of ice is formed, it will only worsen, and there will be no cooling power in the home. To find a frozen coil, remove the air filter and look inside the blower. Ice will be immediately visible, and pools of water will often be found around the unit. Frozen coils can also occur due to a lack of airflow. When there are frozen coils or puddles of water around the unit, the best course is to remove the air filter and turn off the AC. It's best to call a technician while homeowners use a blower and aim it directly at the coils to allow it to defrost. In some situations, replacing the air filter will be all that is needed.
Inadequate Cooling
Another consequence of low refrigerant levels that result from a leak is a cool that isn’t getting cool enough. For the refrigerant to evaporate, it must first be condensed outside. If the pressure is too low, it will never fully condense, and its cooling power will disappear. If the thermostat reading is correct and the air conditioner is running but warm air is coming from the vents, a refrigerant leak is the most likely cause. Also, pay attention to the length of AC cycles. As the leak worsens, cycles will get longer and longer until the unit can no longer keep up. Unusual Sounds
Refrigerant should run through its piping with little to no noise. Under normal operating conditions, the surrounding equipment should drown out the noise of the fluid's flow. However, when leaks occur, the refrigerant flow is disrupted, causing it to hiss and bubble. If the homeowner is near the condenser unit and hears hissing and bubbling, it shows a low refrigerant charge. The homeowner will likely notice one of the other signs and then listen for turbulent refrigerant flow.
About Triple A Air Conditioning & Heating
Triple A Air Conditioning & Heating is a full-service indoor comfort specialist that handles indoor air quality issues and AC repairs. Their knowledgeable and professional teams offer free estimates and back up their work with 10-year warranties. Call today for refrigerant leak repairs in Corpus Christi, TX.
