What does it mean to have a refrigerant leak? If you are not well educated with your HVAC you may not even know what refrigerant is. Hal Mechanical will go over what refrigerant is and what signs there are if you have a leak and are having problems with your AC.
What is AC Refrigerant?
Refrigerant also known as a freon or coolant gas is a chemical compound that is used in your air conditioner. The refrigerant absorbs the heat from inside your home and takes it to the outdoor unit where it is released outside. All types of air conditioners use refrigerant. This includes central air, ductless air, portable AC, and heat pumps. If you have a leak that would cause your refrigerant to be low then you will start having problems with your AC.
How Do I Know if My AC Refrigerant is Leaking?
If you are noticing that something is wrong with your AC it could be connected to low refrigerant. Some of these signs may be easier to detect than others.
– Less cool air blowing- because refrigerant has a lot to do with heat transfer when it is low then you will not get as much cool air coming out
– Not blowing cold air – if you notice that your AC is blowing warm air and not cold air, then it could be associated with refrigerant leaks
– Short cycling – when the refrigerant is low, it has a hard time finding the desired temperature which can then cause your AC to turn off and on quicker without it at the temperature you desire.
– Less airflow- if you notice that your airflow is weak and not blowing as much as it used to, it could be a leak.
– Higher energy bills – if you have noticed that your energy bill has skyrocketed, it could be because of a leak. This one you may not notice right away but over the months you will start seeing a change.
– Frozen evaporator coils- when you have a leak, your indoor coils cannot absorb the heat, which can then freeze your evaporator coils
Common Causes of Refrigerant Leaks
There are many reasons why you could get a refrigerant leak, some are definitely more obvious than others.
– Wear and tear – this one is pretty obvious. The older your system gets the more it has to work and can start to get worn down. With all the parts that are moving, the electrical or metal, even the rubber seals can start to get worn down over time causing a refrigerant leak.
– Metal Corrosion – when the metal starts to corrode, the AC coils get holes in it and will start to develop a leak.
– Vibrations – for your AC to run smoothly it needs to be well-oiled. If it is not when it starts to vibrate, the vibration can weaken the joints and connections and start a leak.
– Physical damage – if there was improper installation or replacement, then this could cause damage and a leak. There could also be damage from kids, animals, or debris by your outside unit that could cause the Leak.
Emergency Central Air Conditioning Repair in Aliante, Anthem, Desert Shores, Eldorado, Enterprise, Green Valley Ranch, Henderson, Inspirada, Mountain’s Edge, North LV, Peccole Ranch, Paradise, Providence, Rhodes Ranch, Seven Hills, Silverado Ranch, Spring Valley, Summerlin, Sunrise Manor, The Lakes, Tuscany Village & Las Vegas Nevada
If you are worried you have a refrigerant leak then give Hal Mechanical a call. We will come and check out your air conditioner and see what is going on including determining if you have a leak and fix it right away.
