Of all of the problems that can develop with your air conditioning system, a refrigerant leak is definitely among the most serious. You see, refrigerant leaks can do extensive damage in the long run if they go unresolved. They can also be tough for the average homeowner to spot, meaning that they often go longer than they should without repairs. This is a really bad combination, and could eventually result in the complete failure of your system.
Now the good news -- inasmuch as we can use that term when discussing this type of problem -- is that a refrigerant leak is going to make manifest various warning signs that you can recognize, provided that you know what it is that you are looking for. That is the purpose of today's post. Keep the following information in mind, and be sure to contact us if you think that you may have a refrigerant leak or any other air conditioning issues in New Britain, CT.
Look Out for Ice on Your System
We cannot stress this enough -- your air conditioner is not a freezer! At no point should you see ice develop on your home cooling system. This is a surefire sign of trouble. The trouble is, however, that there are many potential causes of the problem. That is why it is so important to have a trained professional diagnose any issues with your AC.
Refrigerant leaks can lead to icing on the system due to the fact that low refrigerant levels allow the evaporator coil to get far too cold. When that happens, condensation that has collected on the coil can wind up freezing on it. The evaporation of refrigerant in this coil is what allows the system to remove heat from the air passing over the coil. If there is not enough refrigerant in the system, it is not going to remove a sufficient amount of heat from the air -- hence the freezing.
Is Your AC Blowing Warm Air?
Without the right amount of refrigerant in your air conditioning system, it is impossible to cool the air in your home as effectively as you should. In fact, if levels are low enough, you may feel warm air coming from your vents! That is the last thing that you want on a particularly hot summer day.
Remember, your system does not consume refrigerant the way that a car consumes gasoline. It is instead recycled throughout the system over and over. This means that low refrigerant levels are either the result of a low charge to begin with, or there is indeed a leak in the system.
Listen for Hissing
No, that's probably not a snake in the system that you are hearing. Refrigerant is under pressure in the air conditioning system. That means that when leaks develop, the force of the refrigerant leaking out can create this hissing sound. Don't ignore this sound, as even "minor" leaks can do real damage to your air conditioner over time.
Live more comfortably, choose Dynamic Mechanical.