4 Indicators Of A Refrigerant Leak That Require Immediate Professional Attention

Whereas you may relish the summers, you may not want to live with the heat indoors. If your AC unit is not cooling as well as it was before, the refrigerant levels could be the cause. It could either be due to leaky lines or the manufacturer could have only partially filled the refrigerant. Although the leaky refrigerant may not appear to be problematic, inhaling it for a long time can be detrimental to your health. Therefore, it is important to employ the services of an AC expert to service your system and ensure there is proper circulation of the refrigerant. The following are indications of a leak. 

Frozen Evaporator Coils

If there is insufficient refrigerant flowing through the coils, they will not absorb the heat as they should. This causes the condensation on the evaporator coils to freeze and form frost. After you turn your AC off, the frost on the coils will thaw and drain onto the floor. Therefore, you should contact your AC technician when you see frost or ice forming on the coils to fix the refrigerant leak before it ruins your system.

Reduced Cooling Power

Your ACs refrigerant cools your home by absorbing the heat from the air in your house. With insufficient refrigerant, your AC's ability to absorb the heat and cool your home will be limited, causing a decrease in cooling capacity. When the cooling control of your AC is reduced, warm air will be supplied through the vents, and your home will fail to reach your thermostat setting. If the air through the vents is not as cold as it should be, hire an AC expert to diagnose your unit for a refrigerant leak and repair it.

Hissing Sounds Coming From the AC

If your AC makes hissing noises, it might indicate a leak. This sound is caused by a change in pressure as the refrigerant leaks out in the lines circulating it. The bigger the leak, the louder the hissing sound, and since the refrigerant circulates through most components of your AC, call a technician when you hear a hissing sound from the indoor and outdoor units.

High Electric Bills

If your AC unit is running on low refrigerant levels, it will have reduced cooling power. Your unit will work harder to cool your home, and you will be forced to dial down your thermostat frequently to achieve your preferred temperature. This will result in your electric bills skyrocketing due to the AC's decreased energy efficiency.

Topping up the refrigerant is not always the solution to reduced levels. You must contact an AC technician to inspect any leaks, regas the refrigerant, and fix any other issue affecting your levels.

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