One of the most common issues with central air conditioners and heat pumps is a refrigerant leak. Although these systems are designed to hold the full amount of refrigerant they should ever need across their 10-15-year lifespan, leaks can develop, leading to an insufficient amount of refrigerant for the AC to work properly.
Leaks can develop for a variety of reasons: an amateur or DIY installation job, faulty equipment, factory defects, wear and tear over time, and corrosion. Not only is breathing in refrigerant dangerous, but your AC system will never be able to cool down your home efficiently if it is leaking refrigerant. Let’s go over six signs that your AC has a refrigerant leak that will require air conditioning repair in Winder, GA.
1. Decreased Cooling Output
One of the most obvious signs of a leaky air conditioner is decreased cooling output. This can manifest as either weak airflow or warm airflow. You will notice that your home is not reaching the set temperature on the thermostat. It’ll also seem like the AC system is running a lot but failing to do its job.
2. Increased Energy Bills
This is one of the least obvious signs of a refrigerant leak since it requires paying attention to your monthly utility bills. If you notice a spike in costs that can’t be correlated to increased usage, a refrigerant leak could be to blame, but you will usually notice some of these other symptoms.
3. Hissing or Bubbling Sounds
Often, refrigerant leaks are caused by pinhole leaks somewhere in the system. Depending on where the leak is, you may hear hissing or bubbling sounds. Refrigerant in an AC system is maintained at high pressure. When there is a leak, the pressurized gas escapes through the small gap or hole, leading to a hissing sound. Because refrigerant is dangerous to breathe in, hissing and bubbling noises should be addressed quickly by a professional HVAC company.
4. Ice Formation on Evaporator Coils
Ice formation on the evaporator coils occurs when there is a significant drop in pressure. When the refrigerant level is insufficient, it cannot absorb the necessary amount of heat from the indoor air and the evaporator coils become excessively cold. This extreme cold causes the moisture in the surrounding air to freeze upon contact with the coils, leading to ice formation.
5. AC System Running Constantly
If you notice that your AC system seems to be running constantly without decreasing your home’s temperature, this is almost certainly a sign of a refrigerant leak. As the system struggles to perform without enough refrigerant, it’ll keep running in an attempt to reach the desired temperature on the thermostat.
6. High Humidity Levels
Have you noticed that your home seems more humid than usual? Your air conditioner naturally reduces humidity when it is functioning properly. If your humidity levels are through the roof, chances are the AC system isn’t working properly.
Contact the team at American Comfort Heating and Cooling for air conditioning repair services in Winder, GA. Bringing Comfort to America, One Home at a Time.
