Summertime has numerous exciting things to offer. You get to enjoy beach holidays, endless amounts of ice cream, outdoor dining, evening outings with your friends, and much more. The list of fun things you can do in summer is literally endless.
You also have to ensure that your AC is in top gear to prevent the summer heat from creeping into your air-conditioned working or living space. You cannot imagine being inside a home or office that isn’t cooling off like it should at this time.
An air conditioning unit can misfunction because of several reasons, one being a refrigerant leak. An inefficient will cost you in terms of dollars because you will pay higher energy bills and comfort because it lowers the indoor air quality. Below are the top telltale signs of an AC refrigerant leak.
Registers not Blowing Cold Air
If your home is not cooling to the desired temperature, it is important you check the registers. If the air blowing from the registers isn’t as cold as it should be, this could be an indication of a refrigerant leak.
Loss of Cooling Power
A refrigerant plays a crucial role in the cooling process. It absorbs the heat from the indoor space and releases it outside. If the levels of the refrigerant are depleted, it means it will take longer to cool your indoor environment. Therefore, if your air conditioning unit is losing its cooling power, it could be a signal of a refrigerant leak.
Frozen Coils
When the refrigerant levels are depleted, the coils don’t adequately absorb heat. This leads to condensation on the coils making them freeze. If this is not addressed in time, it can lead to system breakdown. Depending on the magnitude of damage, this can call for a compressor replacement which is a costly expenditure.
Strange Sounds
Your air conditioning system should run fairly quiet. When you start hearing strange noises such as hissing, squealing, rattling, and buzzing coming from your AC, it is a sign of a problem with the system. Although hissing sound can be an indication of various issues, a refrigerant leak is one of them.
Skyrocketing Energy Bills
An AC refrigerant leak will make your system to work extra hard to get your desired comfort level in your indoor space. This has a ripple effect of increasing your energy costs. When you start noticing skyrocketing utility bills and no major changes have happened in your home, a refrigerant leak could be the cause.
These are the top telltale signs of an AC refrigerant leak and can help you stop a sudden breakdown on your system. When you notice any of them, the best thing to do is to call your local HVAC contractor. Don’t try to fix the problem on your own because it can cause more damage.
Additionally, it will be beneficial to enrol for preventive maintenance schedule with a reputable and trustworthy HVAC company in your neighbourhood. This will ensure that your system is always running optimally and will also detect the problem as soon as it develops.
