Refrigerant is the substance that makes your air conditioner the system that it is. Without it, your AC would essentially just be a large and rather overly expensive fan.
This is why, if you see any indicators that you have a refrigerant leak in your AC, you should schedule air conditioner repair in Aztec immediately. Getting that repair as soon as you can will help save you money on your energy expenses and can end up meaning the difference between a repair and replacement.
Let’s delve into what refrigerant is, why it is important, and why a refrigerant leak is a big problem.
The Role Of Refrigerant
Refrigerant is the substance that serves as your air conditioner’s “heat transfer medium.” As it travels inside and then back outside, is evaporated into a gas to allow it to absorb heat, creating that cool airflow you are looking for. Then, the now-warm refrigerant goes back outside where it is condensed, releasing the heat that has been absorbed, and then starting the process all over again.
A refrigerant leak can impact the ability of the refrigerant to change states or can hinder its ability to absorb heat.
4 Signs You Have a Refrigerant Leak
If you have a refrigerant leak, you’ll need to get the hole patched and get a refrigerant recharge (refill) as soon as you can. Here are the warning signs to watch out for.
- Reduced cooling: First and foremost a refrigerant leak is going to negatively impact your air conditioner’s ability to produce cool air. If you notice that your system cannot reliably create cool air for your house as of late, it is worthwhile to have your refrigerant line checked.
- Short cycling: Another warning sign is when your air conditioner is unable to complete a full cooling cycle. Your AC will usually run in cycles of about 15 minutes. When a cooling cycle is cut off after 10 minutes, or maybe even after just five minutes, it is short cycling which is extremely bad for your system itself.
- Ice on the evaporator coil: Ice on your evaporator coil isn’t a sign that your AC unit is working better than usual. In fact, it is the exact opposite. If there is a refrigerant leak, it may reduce the system’s ability to absorb heat, causing the refrigerant cycling through the system to super-cool the evaporator coil. As that ice layer worsens, it will also make the issue even worse.
- Hissing or bubbling sounds: Last but certainly not least be sure to keep an ear out for any strange sounds coming from your air conditioner. A hissing noise May indicate that there is a leak in your refrigerant line where the refrigerant is in a gaseous state and escaping through said leak. On the other hand bubbling May indicate that there is a leak in the portion of the line where the refrigerant is still in liquid form, allowing air into the line to create the noise.
Reach Out to Us For Refrigerant Issues
Whatever indicators you are noticing a refrigerant leak is not something to delay having addressed. If you start having problems with your air conditioner make sure to reach out to a team of professionals like ours for expert repairs.
Don’t waste your time with the run-around. Give us a call and let us do it right the first time! Contact the experts at Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. to schedule your next repair.