No one enjoys discovering a leak in the home. But what if the leak is coming from your air conditioner? It might not seem like as big of a deal as a pipe leak but it is still a problem. Depending on the type of system you have and where the leak is, your refrigerant leak can create problems for your comfort and can even run the risk of damaging your home.
Refrigerant is like the lifeblood of your air conditioner. And a key factor to remember is that your air conditioner has the exact amount of refrigerant needed to do its job until the day it is replaced. If you start to lose refrigerant, it is a problem that should prompt a call for AC repair in Miami.
What Refrigerant Does
Let’s make one thing clear now: refrigerant is a transfer medium, NOT a fuel source. This is a common misconception that many people have which can create some problems–mainly that they think it is normal to have less refrigerant over the years.
When we say that refrigerant is a transfer medium, we mean that this chemical is used to pull heat out of your home. The refrigerant absorbs the heat and carries it to your outdoor unit where it is condensed and releases the heat. This is essentially what allows your AC unit to cool your home. Without refrigerant, your air conditioner is just an over-expensive fan!
Why Less Refrigerant Is a Bad Thing
Refrigerant is vital to the cooling process. You might wonder if having less refrigerant is really that bad. We are here to tell you that losing refrigerant is a serious problem for your system. Let us explain.
Loss of refrigerant, first and foremost, incidates that your system has a leak in the refrigerant line. This requires prompt repair. A refrigerant leak that is allowed to go unattended or unpatched will lead to a variety of problems for your home’s air conditioner which includes:
- Slower cooling: Less refrigerant will slow down the cooling process.
- Increased energy use: Your air conditioner will begin having to work harder to cool your home, thereby forcing it to use extra energy.
- Short cycling: Your air conditioner will turn on and try to cool things off but will either overheat and shut off early, or simply be unable to cool things off and will shut off the cooling cycle prematurely. Short cycling puts a major strain on your AC system.
- Frozen coils: It may sound odd but less refrigerant absorbing heat will put your evaporator coil at risk of freezing which can and will cause additional damage to your system.
If you notice the signs of a refrigerant leak in your AC then it is best to reach out to a professional to address the problem. This is about more than patching the leak. You also need an expert to recharge (refill) your refrigerant properly and make sure it is pressurized right to allow your system to return to its proper operation.
When you need help with your air conditioner, contact Air On Demand for your system repairs.