Let’s make one thing clear: you should never have a technician coming by to regularly “top off” your air conditioner refrigerant. If a technician is telling you that this is normal, then you need to change who you’re allowing to work on your system.
The truth is that a loss of refrigerant is a sign that you need to get an air conditioner repair in Kingsburg CA. Your system’s refrigerant line has a leak and this will have serious consequences for it until the issue is fixed.
We have everything you need to know about this problem detailed below. Read on and call us ASAP if you think your AC has a refrigerant leak.
How Refrigerant Is Used
To understand why a loss of refrigerant is a bad thing, it helps to understand the role that this substance plays in your system.
Refrigerant is not fuel. Electricity is the fuel source for your AC or heat pump. Refrigerant is the heat transfer medium. This means that refrigerant is used to absorb and move heat out of (and sometimes into) your home. It is cycled continuously in a closed-loop system, meaning it is not used up over time. The amount of refrigerant you have in your system when it is installed should be the same until it’s replaced.
Key word: should.
What Causes a Refrigerant Leak
If you’re losing refrigerant from your air conditioner or heat pump, it means there is a leak. Remember, this is a closed-loop system so refrigerant doesn’t get used up, ever.
Leaks can happen due to wear and tear over the years. While maintenance can help to reduce the impact of wear and tear, this problem may still pop up. The important thing to remember when a refrigerant leak occurs is that addressing it quickly is the most important thing to do.
Spotting the Signs of a Refrigerant Leak
A refrigerant leak is bad news. However, the suspicion of a leak isn’t a reason to try opening up your air conditioner yourself. This is something that you should always leave to the professionals. Here are some of the warning signs to watch for that will alert you to the presence of a refrigerant leak:
- The system is short cycling. It can’t complete a cooling cycle because the refrigerant level can’t support the transfer of heat out of your home.
- You can hear hissing or bubbling. Hissing indicates a leak allowing gaseous refrigerant out of your system. Bubbling can indicate air is infiltrating the line where the refrigerant is still in liquid form.
- There is ice on the evaporator coil. If you can see your AC, you may peek inside and notice ice coating the evaporator coil. This means that the system isn’t absorbing enough heat, causing the line to become so cold it freezes.
For refrigerant leaks and other air conditioner issues, you can come to our team to get the repairs that will help.
Where comfort and technology come together: Contact California Indoor Comfort Inc to schedule your next system repair.