Refrigerant leaks happen all the time due to the sheer number of air conditioners that rely on them. In fact, without refrigerant and the compressor that cycles through it, your air conditioner would be just one large oversized fan!
Air conditioners that leak refrigerant often run into some serious problems that can usually be avoided with professional repairs. The tricky part is when homeowners need help realizing or discovering that their air conditioner is leaking refrigerant. This is what we aim to help you with today.
If you suspect your system of leaking refrigerant, then we urge you to consider calling our team for air conditioner repair in Kennewick, WA. We’ll quickly and effectively alleviate the problem if there is one. But if you’re not sure about the state of your AC and whether it’s actually leaking refrigerant, then keep reading. We’ll give you some of the most notorious signs of a leaking AC system.
Hearing the “Bubbling” or “Hissing” Noise
The first and most obvious sign of an air conditioner leaking refrigerant, is the sound of the leak.
When refrigerant leaks out of the gaseous refrigerant line, it usually makes a “hissing” noise, since the refrigerant gas is starting to exit the line. However, when a leak occurs in the line where the refrigerant is in liquid form, it’ll likely make a “bubbling sound.” This is due to the fact that air bubbles are actually getting into the refrigerant line and causing problems.
None of these problems are better or worse than the other, they’re all bad and are signs that you need professional AC repair.
A Sweet Odor
When air conditioning refrigerant leaks, it can sometimes smell sweet like chloroform. This is a clue that your home is in desperate need for AC repairs.
While refrigerant isn’t toxic to breathe in, it’s denser than air. This means that in an enclosed space, it can push the oxygen out and actually cause suffocation in rare cases. Be careful if you detect this odor and call for our help.
A Failing Air Conditioner
Sometimes, an air conditioner can just start to fail due to a refrigerant leak. Here are three other distinct signs that your system might be leaking refrigerant.
- Poor comfort. If your system can’t meet your comfort expectations set on the thermostat, then it could be due to a lack of refrigerant.
- Ice forming on the coils. Sometimes the refrigerant that’s still in the system gets too cold and leads to ice building on the coils of the system.
- High energy bills. A system with sub-par levels of refrigerant will run less efficiently and consume more electricity than a system in good shape.
Call for Help
Don’t try to fix a refrigerant leak on your own. Not only does this require specific technical expertise, but a certain type of refrigerant is required for your specific AC model. Only a professionally trained technician has the right set of equipment and knowledge to correctly address your leaking air conditioner.
Sometimes, repairs won’t even get the job done right. In certain cases, a whole system replacement might be the most cost-effective solution, and our technicians will be honest with you when that time comes.
Here at Americool Heating & Air Conditioning, your comfort is our business. Schedule a repair ASAP with our team of qualified technicians!