Although refrigerant leaks are rare, they do happen and can cause a variety of problems for your air conditioner and your health. So, it’s essential that you have a reliable AC service company to call on when your system’s refrigerant leaks out. Call one of our East Windsor cooling experts and ask about our AC refrigerant leak services today.
Conway Comfort Heating & Cooling is available for all of your air conditioner repair needs!
What Is Refrigerant?
AC refrigerant is a chemical that allows your air conditioner to cool your home. It works by absorbing heat from the air and changing it from a low-pressure gas and into a high-pressure liquid. Components in your air conditioner send the liquid to the outside unit, where a fan blows hot air over the coils to exhaust the heat. The refrigerant then turns back into a low-pressure gas, and a fan inside the house blows air over the coil to cool them, thus blowing cold air into your home.
Dangers of AC Refrigerant Leaks
Many times, refrigerant leaks go unnoticed because the gas escapes the ruptured line quickly. However, if you’re near a line leaking refrigerant, you can experience several ill-effects such as shortness of breath, dizziness, loss of coordination, and difficulty concentrating. Some people also experience skin rashes or chemical burns if the refrigerant comes into direct contact with the skin. Also, because children and pets are smaller, health problems are worse when they come into contact with refrigerant.
While most of these health risks aren’t life-threatening, it’s still essential that you get a refrigerant leak fixed as quickly as possible to keep your AC running properly and for protecting your family. Here’s how to know if you have a refrigerant leak:
- The air doesn’t get as cold as it should.
- The humidity stays higher than it should.
- The AC’s evaporator coils are frozen.
If you notice any of the above signs or have any of the symptoms of a refrigerant leak, call a professional AC repair company for help.
If your air conditioner isn’t giving you the cold air you desire, it could be an issue with the evaporator coil. Be sure to check out our evaporator coil services to see if we can help.
Common Causes of Refrigerant Leaks
Many people mistakenly think that Freon or refrigerant slowly depletes out of the system through day-to-day use; however, that isn’t the case. Loss of Freon is most often caused by small holes that allow the gas-liquid to escape. Other common causes of refrigerant leaks are:
- Poorly installed systems
- Defects in the air conditioner
- Corrosion of the metal tubing that carries the refrigerant
Note that it’s essential that you deal with refrigerant leaks ASAP because they get worse over time if you neglect them much like an inflatable pool where the hole starts small, then develops into a more significant problem later.
