AC refrigerant leak disrupts its function and is not a normal event. An efficient air conditioner unit circulates the whole refrigerant volume in the refrigeration circuit. So, each refrigerant level reduction can be caused by AC leaking.
Air conditioner refrigerant leak has various reasons and signs. Here we are going to talk about the five main ones.
The reasons for AC refrigerant leak
It is not true that the refrigerant level gradually decreases during refrigeration process. The truth is low refrigerant level is a sign of its leaking. Some of the main reasons for AC refrigerant leak are:
Corrosion of copper tubes in AC indoor unit
When the copper tube walls get corroded and cracks or holes are formed, the walls weakens and refrigerant leaks out of them.
Defective AC unit
Most of the air conditioner units are detected carefully before leaving the factory, but some defective ones are installed into homes mistakenly. They can cause more problems rather than refrigerant leak.
Incorrect AC installation
Incorrectly-fitted parts during improper installation allow the refrigerant gas to escape.
AC unit vibration
Excessive vibration of the AC unit can cause the fittings and joints to loose and makes refrigerant leak out of them.
Loose AC connections
Loose joints and connections are one of the main reasons for refrigerant leak but can easily been fixed.
Top signs of AC refrigerant leak
AC hissing noise
AC refrigerant leak can be caused by holes or cracks on coils’ walls which circulate refrigerant throughout the whole system. The refrigerant gas passing through a tiny hole or crack makes a hissing noise. If the crack gets larger, the hissing sound turns into a gurgling noise.
Tip: AC hissing noise can have some other reasons too, but refrigerant leak is one of the most common ones.
No cold air distribution
If AC unit doesn't blow cold air, you should inspect it for a possible leak. No cold air distribution is the most obvious sign of this problem.
Long AC cooling cycle
As we mentioned in the article about AC leaking water, the main refrigerant job is absorbing the heat and sending it outside. So, it has a vital role in refrigeration process.
If the refrigerant level is too low, it takes longer for the AC to cool the house. So, the unit runs longer and works harder.
Frozen evaporator coils
Formation of ice on AC evaporator coils is a clear sign of AC refrigerant leak. If the refrigerant level inside the evaporator coils is low, they can't absorb enough heat. So, the condensation on the coils freezes. When the AC stops working, the ice melts down and there will also be some water dropping down on the floor. This is a serious problem. It can result in a complete system breakdown and expensive repair.
High electricity bill
If you lower the thermostat to compensate the AC inefficient function in cooling the house because of the refrigerant leak, your electricity bill will be largely affected. You use more electricity and the AC unit works harder. So, always view your monthly bills, to make sure there isn't any problem.
Poisoning symptoms caused by refrigerant leak
Freon is a fluorocarbon, a chemical which can be poisonous if you are exposed to it for too long. It doesn't have any color or smell. So, whenever you noticed it's leaking from the air conditioner unit, you should take a serious measure.
If you have any of the following symptoms, immediately visit a doctor:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Fluid build-up or bleeding in your lungs
- Difficult breathing
- Seizures
Note: if your air conditioner unit is too low on refrigerant, the constant refrigerant charge in case of any permanent leaking, is not a proper way. Because the leaking will again lower the refrigerant level. So, ask a technician to help you.
If you watch AC training course in HelloTechnic website, you yourself can be a technician and do everything about AC installation, service, troubleshooting and repair.
air conditioner, ac repair
