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The honest answer to this question is: hopefully not. Just because you have a refrigerant leak does not mean that your air conditioner needs to be replaced entirely — typically — but it does mean that you may actually damage your system seriously simply because you do not realize that there is a leak to begin with. It is for this exact reason that you must schedule air conditioning repairs in Stamford, CT the moment that you realize that there is a leak.
In order to do that, of course, you must first learn to recognize the signs that there is a leak in your system to begin with. This is not always as simple as it sounds. While a refrigerant leak is a big problem, it is one that won’t cause your system to break down entirely immediately. The longer that it goes undetected, though, the greater the risk of serious damage to your air conditioner. We encourage you to keep the following tips in mind so that you can get out ahead of any such problems.
The Role of Refrigerant in the Cooling Process
Okay, you may be thinking, why exactly is a refrigerant leak so serious? Well, the refrigerant in your system is not there to lubricate it or to keep it cool. Those are obviously important functions, but the function of refrigerant is so directly intertwined with the overall cooling process that low refrigerant levels are incredibly disruptive to that process. In fact, it is the evaporation of refrigerant itself that is responsible for the removal of heat from the air in your home.
Refrigerant evaporates in the evaporator coil, which is located in the indoor unit of your air conditioning system. This coil will not be able to remove a sufficient amount of heat from the air in your home if there is not enough refrigerant present in your home cooling system. That will result in a number of problems, and those problems offer up a number of different red flags.
Warning Signs to Look Out For
Have you noticed that it is suddenly costing more and more for you to cool your home? If so, it could be due to the fact that there is a low refrigerant charge in your system. The system does not consume refrigerant the way that a car consumes gas, so low levels indicate a leak.
Because the lack of refrigerant hinders the heat absorption process, you may actually start to see ice develop on the evaporator coil in the indoor unit. This is due to the fact that the coil is getting cold enough to freeze the condensation that collects on it, and that barrier layer of ice will only serve to further insulate the coil.
Your system may begin to overheat as it struggles to cool your home effectively, which is why short cycling qualifies as another warning sign. If the system is starting up, running only briefly, and then cycling back down, it will put a lot of strain on the system. This can result in serious damage over time.
Celco Heating and Air Conditioning is here for your AC repair needs.
