What are the Signs of an AC Refrigerant Leak?

Have you noticed the air conditioner in your Fernandina, Florida, home isn’t cooling like it normally does? If so, you may have a refrigerant leak. Reduced airflow and a hissing noise are both signs of an AC refrigerant leak. Regardless of the cause of the leak, it’s important to have it repaired as soon as possible.

Low Cooling Power

The refrigerant in an AC system absorbs indoor heat and expels it into the outside air. When the refrigerant level is low or depleted, your AC system loses cooling power. It may not even reach your desired temperature. The AC system will continue to operate to maintain your desired temperature, and this leads to a significant amount of energy waste. As a result, you’ll notice an increase in your cooling expenses.

Frozen Coils

The evaporator coils require sufficient airflow to operate correctly. When the refrigerant is leaking, this compromises airflow. Evaporator coils will often freeze when there’s a refrigerant leak. Frozen evaporator coils can cause a lot of damage to the AC system and lead to expensive repairs. Much of the time, frozen coils will overheat the AC system.

Hissing Sound

A refrigerant leak is usually caused by holes or cracks in the evaporator coils. As the refrigerant leaks, you’ll notice a hissing noise. If it’s a large leak, you might even hear a gurgling sound. Any time you notice a hissing or gurgling noise, turn off the AC system and contact an HVAC service technician immediately.

Warm Air

If you notice warm air blowing from the air registers, check the thermostat. Someone may have adjusted the temperature without you knowing. If the thermostat is set to your desired temperature and the air registers are still blowing warm air, you might have a refrigerant leak.

Some people use sealants as a temporary fix to refrigerant leaks. This temporary solution can end up doing more harm than good. If you think you have a refrigerant leak, make sure to contact Cool Connections, Inc. at (904) 908-5252 to schedule an AC repair session.

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