Your air conditioning system relies on refrigerant to absorb all the heat indoors and provide cool air that's more refreshing. However, damage can cause refrigerant leaks, interfering with indoor comfort and exposing the house's occupants to health risks. Some indicators of refrigerant poisoning likely caused by leaking include nausea, dizziness, breathing problems, lack of concentration, and pain in the nose and throat. This post will expound on signs of leakage, enabling you to contact your HVAC contractor immediately after noticing them.
You Hear Hissing or Bubbling Sounds
One sign you're likely to notice if the refrigerant leaks is a hissing sound. This is because holes in the components channeling the refrigerant may cause the system to emit a hiss during operation. In case the holes are large, you might hear a bubbling noise because much of the refrigerant is escaping at once. So, if you hear hissing or bubbling, engage a technician to inspect and repair any perforations.
The Cooling Cycles Are Taking Longer
An AC system operates in cycles to regulate temperatures, with the indoor temperature and thermostat settings determining the cycles' duration. As such, if there is a refrigerant leak in the system, it will become more challenging to attain the required indoor temperature. This will force the air conditioner to run for longer since the system's ability to cool the house will be compromised. The longer the cooling cycles, the more power the unit uses, translating to inefficiency. Thus, have a technician assess the AC if you notice that the cycles are longer than they ought to be.
The Air Indoors is Humid
The AC heat exchange process cannot be completed successfully without refrigerant. This exchange is where heavy warm air is removed from the house, and light, cooler air is released to keep the indoor space comfortable. If there is inadequate refrigerant in the system, the AC's ability to eliminate humidity is adversely affected. Consequently, you will likely notice that the air in your home is more humid over time. Significantly, mold will grow if you fail to get a technician to fix this issue in time.
The Coils Are Freezing
If the AC does not have adequate refrigerant, it will also not absorb warm air efficiently. This will cause condensation on the coils, resulting in their freezing. Accordingly, you need expert help to resolve the leak and fix the evaporator coil freezing problem.
Although a refrigerant leak is not a frequent AC problem, it may still occur at some point. Therefore, you must consult a reputable technician if your AC exhibits any of these signs. They will inspect the system thoroughly and then fix the leakage and any other problems they might diagnose.
For more information, contact an air conditioning repair service near you.
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