Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Refrigerant?

Your air conditioner’s refrigerant is essential to the performance of your system, as it absorbs heat from the environment and cools your air. When refrigerant starts to leak from your AC, it can reduce your AC’s cooling power, increase your energy bills, freeze your evaporator coils, and raise your indoor humidity levels. If you want to avoid these negative effects, it’s crucial you know the main signs of a refrigerant leak and schedule an air conditioner repair as fast as possible.

The 5 Main Signs You Have a Refrigerant Leak

While refrigerant leaks have several causes, you don’t have to know what caused the leak to know you might have one. By knowing the five main signs of a refrigerant leak, you can take action quickly before the problem spirals out of control. Find out more about these signs below:

1. High Indoor Humidity Levels

A properly functioning air conditioner will remove warm air and dehumidify your home. When an air conditioner has a refrigerant leak, the AC won’t be able to remove warm air, leading to higher humidity levels in your home. Besides making your skin feel clammy and causing your home’s atmosphere to feel heavy and warm, high humidity levels can lead to mold growth and health problems. If you notice high humidity levels in your home, it’s time for a professional to check your AC for a refrigerant leak.

2. Poor Cooling Power

Since refrigerant is responsible for absorbing heat and removing it from your home, a leak can significantly impact your AC’s cooling power. A loss of refrigerant will make it harder for your AC to cool your home, causing it to run longer to reach your desired temperature. Eventually, a leak can cause the AC to not blow any cool air at all. To keep your AC running at its best, you’ll want to schedule an inspection as soon as it starts losing power.

3. Hissing or Bubbling Sounds From Your Outdoor Unit

One of the biggest causes of refrigerant leaks is cracks in the coils responsible for circulating refrigerant. If the cracks are smaller, your outdoor AC unit will make hissing sounds, while a larger crack will produce bubbling or gurgling sounds. Any time you notice bubbling or hissing sounds coming from your outdoor unit, you may have a refrigerant leak that you should take action on fast.

4. Increased Energy Bills

Since refrigerant leaks cause your AC to work harder to cool your home, a leak can also raise your electricity bills. As the AC struggles to cool your home, it will run longer and use up more electricity. When your electric bills spike and your AC never can seem to keep your home at the right temperature, it’s time to have your AC checked for a refrigerant leak.

5. Frozen Evaporator Coils

Frozen evaporator coils are another main sign of a refrigerant leak. If your refrigerant is at the right level, it will pass through your evaporator coils, absorbing heat. However, when the levels are low, condensation on the coils won’t dissipate and will begin to freeze. Since frozen evaporator coils can cause a full system breakdown, you’ll want to schedule an inspection and AC repair if you notice melted water dripping from your AC.

Choose Bonney for Air Conditioner Repair in Sacramento

If you think you have a refrigerant leak and need of AC repairs near you in Sacramento, Bonney can help. Once you contact us, our team of HVAC professionals can find the source of a refrigerant leak and fix it for you to ensure your HVAC system runs at its best. We can also provide air conditioner replacement services if the leak caused irreparable damage, helping you select an AC with the right performance and energy efficiency for your needs. Learn more about our AC repair services today. If you have any questions or want to schedule an appointment, please contact us.