If you think you may have a refrigerant leak, you should get help right away. Not only is a refrigerant leak bad for your air conditioner, but it can also be toxic to breathe. Once you notice indications of a refrigerant leak, the next step is figuring out a way to solve the problem.
What Are the Signs of a Refrigerant Leak?
Sometimes, you won’t notice any indications of a leak. While some refrigerant types have a sweet scent, other types don’t produce any kind of smell. Likewise, some leaks are small and let only a tiny amount of refrigerant out over time.
Because of this, it’s important to schedule routine maintenance for your air conditioner. Ideally, an HVAC technician should inspect your air conditioner for problems at least once a year. In between inspections, there are a few signs you should pay attention to because they could indicate a refrigerant leak.
High Energy Bills
Refrigerant is one of the main components in your HVAC system. If it’s running low, your unit will have to work longer to cool your home to the same temperature. Because of this, you’ll likely have higher electricity bills.
Hissing Noises
While a small leak might not produce any noises, larger ones will be more noticeable. Often, refrigerant leaks will make a hissing noise.
Lack of Cool Air
Once the refrigerant is low enough, your air conditioner will become completely unable to cool your house. Even when your AC unit is running, it will only blow warm air.
Sweet Odors
A sweet smell is a fairly common indication of a refrigerant leak.
Frozen Evaporator Coils
The refrigerant is normally responsible for warming your evaporator coil. When it doesn’t do its job, the evaporator coil can become frozen. Afterward, you’ll have to wait up to a day for the evaporator coil to unfreeze so that it can be fixed.
Long Cooling Cycles
If your HVAC system is running low on refrigerant, you’ll likely notice longer cooling cycles. The air conditioner has to work longer to cool your home, so it has to run longer. Because this can increase the wear and tear on the other components, it can increase the likelihood that you’ll need other repairs.
What Should I Do if My Refrigerant Is Leaking?
Once you’ve discovered a potential leak, it’s important to take action right away. You never want to use an AC unit that has a refrigerant leak. Other than damaging your family’s health, leaky refrigerants can also be harmful to the environment. After discovering a leak, you should take the following steps to find a solution.
Turn It Off
The first step in dealing with a refrigerant leak is to completely turn off your air conditioner. You don’t want to keep it running if it’s leaking refrigerant. If you’re able to, unplug the AC unit from its power source.
Call an HVAC Professional
Next, you should contact an HVAC professional for help. One of our technicians can inspect your system to locate the leak. The federal government requires a special certification for handling refrigerants, so this is something that must be dealt with by professionals.
Locate the Leak
Once the HVAC technician reaches your home, their first step will be to locate the leak. Often, these leaks will be near the evaporator coil, condenser unit, or refrigerant lines.
The most common location for a leak is near the indoor evaporator coil. Normally, this coil is supposed to absorb heat from your indoor air. When refrigerant leaks occur in this area, they’re typically the size of a pinhole. They’re usually detected with a refrigerant sniffer or through a soap bubble test.
Alternatively, the leak can occur on the actual refrigerant lines. These copper lines go to and from the AC unit. The large copper line is known as the suction line, and it transports cooled gas. The small copper line is called the liquid line. It brings your home’s heat outdoors.
Finally, refrigerant leaks can happen near your condenser unit. This unit is wrapped in refrigerant lines and fins that help disperse heat. As your unit ages or becomes corroded, leaks can develop.
Replace the Leaking Part
In general, the best way to fix a refrigerant leak is to replace the leaky part. Because most leaks happen on the evaporator coil, this is the most common component to replace.
After the leak has been repaired, the HVAC technician will need to check your refrigerant levels and recharge the refrigerant. Beforehand, they’ll likely use nitrogen to purge the copper lines so that they’re free from debris. Once the lines have been cleaned and recharged, your air conditioner should work like normal again.
Can Refrigerant Levels Decline Without a Leak?
As a general rule, refrigerant levels can’t change unless there’s a leak present. Your refrigerant lines are designed to be a closed system. If the levels are gradually decreasing, the cause is always some type of leak. While this is fairly common in older HVAC systems, it’s a sign you need professional help right away.
What Causes a Refrigerant Leak?
A refrigerant leak can occur for many different reasons. While you can prevent some of these causes, wear and tear can eventually cause a leak to happen. This is why it’s so important to schedule maintenance and inspections with an HVAC professional.
Incorrect Installation
Sometimes, refrigerant leaks happen because the air conditioner isn’t installed properly. If the flare connections are overtightened, it can cause a refrigerant leak.
Manufacturing Issues
If the AC unit was manufactured incorrectly, it may leak. Defects may break down over time and cause pinhole-sized tears in the lines.
Corrosion
Corrosion can happen over time because of moisture and rain. This is especially common with outdoor units. Over time, the corrosion leads to tiny leaks that allow refrigerant to escape.
In the future, you can prevent corrosion by keeping plants and debris away from your outdoor unit. Ideally, you should clear 2 to 3 feet around the air conditioner so that plants don’t clog the machine or allow moisture damage.
Wear and Tear
Unfortunately, wear is an incredibly common cause of refrigerant leaks. Rubber seals, valve stems, and other components wear out over the years. Additionally, some components can develop rust. All of these types of wear can lead to leaks.
Get Help Fixing Your Refrigerant Leak
If a refrigerant leak isn’t fixed, it can cause other parts of your air conditioner to break. More importantly, it can be hazardous to your family’s health. With the help of High 5 Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, you can quickly get your refrigerant leaks repaired.
At High 5 Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, we have years of experience serving homeowners in Denver and the surrounding areas. Our team handles air conditioner maintenance, gas line service, furnace installations, tankless water heaters, and everything in between. If you suspect a refrigerant leak in your home, then reach out to us today for AC repair.
