Working as a Heating Professional Can Lead to Success

Can You Tell When Your AC Is Leaking Refrigerant? 3 Signs To Watch Out For

28 October 2022

Abbie Wade

The refrigerant is the secret behind the cooling function of your air conditioning unit. This is because the system absorbs warm air from the room and passes it through the evaporator coils, exposing it to the refrigerant. Here, the refrigerant absorbs the heat as it travels through the system and leaves cold and refreshing air.  

You should know that this heat exchange process keeps your indoors cool in the hot summer. As such, your space will remain comfortable as long as the refrigerant is working. However, a leak can lead to massive issues, including an uncomfortable atmosphere and health concerns. Here are signs that your unit is leaking refrigerant.

There Is Too Much Humidity in the Home

Modern AC units regulate both the temperature and humidity in the house. They do so by taking the heat and moisture from the house and expelling it through the condenser. If the refrigerant isn't working well, your unit will not remove water from the indoor air. As a result, your home will face issues like a highly humid indoor space that can lead to mold growth.

You Are Paying Bigger Bills

One of the ways you can tell that you have problems with your HVAC system is a rising electrical bill without adding a new appliance to the house. In most cases, when the refrigerant starts leaking, your unit loses a significant volume of its coolant. As a result, it cannot cool the house as effectively as before and will run longer to meet demand. In the end, the additional time the unit runs leads to power wastage and a higher bill. The good news is, sealing the leak and replenishing the refrigerant can resolve the issue. 

The AC Is On, but the House Is Stuffy

You can also tell there is an issue with the system when you switch on the air conditioner, but the air remains hot and stuffy. Often, this means that the evaporation and condensation processes have failed. Ultimately, the loss of refrigerant is one of the leading causes of system malfunction. As such, you must get a technician to assess your system for a leak and repair it. This way, the HVAC expert will restore the proper function of the air conditioning system and end the stuffiness. 

Call an HVAC technician immediately if you notice any of the above signs indicating a problem with your refrigerant. They will help you seal the system and replace the lost fluid. More so, such repairs will restore the function and efficiency of your AC and also increase its longevity.

Contact a local HVAC service to learn more. 

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