Refrigerant is the substance in your AC unit that allows the air in the unit to cool before being blown back into your home. It changes from a gas to a liquid, and from a liquid back to a gas, absorbing heat as it does to cool the air.
While refrigerant is an essential part of your air cooling system, a refrigerant leak can cause
- HVAC system damage
- Damage to the ozone layer
- Increased energy consumption
- Lung damage and other health concerns
In more extreme cases, refrigerant poisoning can lead to death. At Beltz Home Service Co., we know how hazardous a refrigerant leak can be. That's why our HVAC contractors work quickly and efficiently on every ac refrigerant leak repair service to keep you and your family safe.
You can trust Beltz Home Service Co. with your emergency HVAC needs too!
What Causes Refrigerant Leaks?
Air conditioner refrigerant leaks can be caused by a few different issues, including
- Formic acid
- Lack of maintenance
- Vibration from the unit working
One of the most common causes is formic acid eating through the line. Ironically, formic acid comes from the copper that is meant to protect the refrigerant line in the first place.
Issues like cracked coils, broken refrigerant lines, and loose connections can occur with time. Without regular maintenance, you could miss them and they can worsen. annual coil cleanings also ensure that contaminants don't corrode the coils, weakening them.
Vibration from your unit working can cause joints to separate, causing a leak. This issue can also be spotted and corrected during a regular tune-up.
Signs You May Have a Refrigerant Leak
It's important to know the signs of a refrigerant leak in your air conditioner. Here are some things to look out for that could indicate a leak:
- Decreased ability to cool - As the amount of refrigerant in your coil decreases, so will your units ability to cool. A simple repair and AC refrigerant replacement will solve this problem.
- Ice or frost on the coil - When there isn't enough refrigerant in the line, the coil can't absorb heat anymore. This leads to a collection of moisture on the coil that freezes.
- Hissing sound coming from your unit - The hissing sound is caused by the refrigerant gas escaping from a break in the line.
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