The short answer? Hopefully not. A refrigerant leak is not necessarily going to render your air conditioner non-functional — at least not immediately — but it can do very real damage to your system given the opportunity. Unfortunately, that opportunity is often given due to the simple fact that many homeowners fail to realize that their system is indeed leaking refrigerant. That is why we want to give you some tips that can help you to recognize that your air conditioner in Kerman, CA has a refrigerant leak.
We cannot stress enough how important it is that you have any refrigerant leak in your air conditioning system resolved as soon as possible. While a complete breakdown not be an immediate concern, refrigerant leaks have many other symptoms that are quite detrimental to your comfort and the overall condition of your system. Read on, and let us know if you suspect that you have a problem of any kind with your home cooling system.
Listen for Leaks
Really? you may be wondering. I can hear my air conditioner leaking refrigerant? It may not be the most obvious sign of trouble with an AC refrigerant leak, but yes, you can actually hear refrigerant leaking out of an air conditioning system sometimes. That refrigerant is under pressure, remember, so in the event that it is being forced out of a leak in the system means that it can create this hissing sound.
Look Out for Ice
The refrigerant in your air conditioning system is so important because it is the evaporation of this refrigerant that allows for the absorption of heat from the air in your home. When the refrigerant is condensed in the outdoor unit, its heat is vented off, and the cycle continues until your home’s temperature has reached the desired level.
If there is a refrigerant leak in the system, then the evaporator coil can actually get too cold, as its ability to draw heat out of the air passing over it is impeded. That can result in ice developing as condensation freezes on the coil. If you see ice on your indoor coil along with frost on the refrigerant lines themselves, a refrigerant leak is quite likely.
Feel for Comfort
It should go without saying that an air conditioner low on refrigerant is not going to be able to cool the air in your home as effectively as one without a leak. Do you feel warm air coming from the vents in your home when you run your air conditioner? If so, you could definitely be dealing with refrigerant leaks.
It is important to keep in mind the fact that refrigerant is not a fuel, and that it is not consumed by your home cooling system in its operation. Instead, refrigerant is recycled throughout the system over and over. That means that low refrigerant levels are either the result of an insufficient charge to begin with, or you do actually have a leak.
Schedule your AC services with California Indoor Comfort Inc., where comfort and technology come together.