AC Refrigerant Leak: Signs and Solutions

The biggest nightmare in the intense heat of summer for any home or business owner is a hidden glitch in their air conditioning system. The HVAC leak is one of the most commonly experienced issues that can affect your air conditioner’s cooling.

So are you supposed to call an air conditioner service, get the system fixed, fill the refrigerant again? Well, not quite yet! First of all, you need to take a look to determine whether your system is leaking refrigerant or not.

Warning Signals for an AC Refrigerant Leak

Let’s take a look at some of the indications that your system might be leaking and needs your attention.

1) The surprising rise in electricity bills

The air conditioning system requires an optimum level of refrigerant to work properly. In case of a leak, the compressor has to bear all the burden and work harder to meet the demands set on the thermostat. To do so, the unit consumes more energy causing your bill to skyrocket easily.

2) Inadequate Cooling

You started your AC, but it took hours to cool the room or maybe failed the task altogether. That’s a big refrigerant leak sign. Your AC cannot take the heat from the room and provide cooler air because the refrigerant that helps it do the job needs refilling.

3) Frozen Evaporator Coils

The heat from the environment is absorbed by the refrigerant and then passes through the evaporator coils. If there is a low refrigerant level, it will cause the condensation to freeze and accumulate on the copper coils. This will make your indoor unit leak water.

4) Weird Sounds

Any sound coming out of your indoor unit is not a good sign. When there are any cracks or holes in the coil, it will make hissing sounds indicating the leak of the refrigerant from the unit. Larger leaks will cause even louder sounds.

5) Warm air around the Vent

While the AC is working, check the type of air you can feel around the vent. If you feel warm air, it means you might have a refrigerant problem. This leak can prevent the unit from producing cool air and makes it function improperly.

Fixing The Refrigerant Leak

Fixing the problem at an early stage can spare you massive damage to your air conditioning unit. Some of the fixes that can solve your problem are:

  • Refilling your refrigerant
  • Replacing the broken evaporator coils
  • Repairing holes, cracks, or any other visible openings.
  • The right option to fix the problem is to call a professional

Get Professional Help

The best decision to get your comfort back is to let QuickAir deal with your HVAC problem. With our years of hands-on experience in this field, we detect and solve the air conditioning problem from their root cause. Want assistance or require consultation? Feel free to contact us at 1300 730 896.

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Ready when you are

Book a licensed technician. Same-day, every capital city.

$239 call-out inc GST · fixed price, no surprises · 4.9★ (128 Google reviews)

About the Author

Picture of Sean Myring - General Manager

Sean Myring - General Manager

Sean Myring is the General Manager of Field Works Group, with 15 years in Australia's home services and trades industry. He leads a national network of licensed technicians across air conditioning, electrical, plumbing and locksmith services, built around one principle: customers should know exactly what they're up for before a technician arrives.

Picture of Grant Damon - National Field Manager

Grant Damon - National Field Manager

Grant Damon is Field Works Group's National Field Manager, with 13 years in Australia's trades industry. He's responsible for the technicians who turn up at your door: how they're vetted, the standards they work to, and the experience customers have with them.

Picture of Sean Myring - General Manager

Sean Myring - General Manager

Sean Myring is the General Manager of Field Works Group, with 15 years in Australia's home services and trades industry. He leads a national network of licensed technicians across air conditioning, electrical, plumbing and locksmith services, built around one principle: customers should know exactly what they're up for before a technician arrives.

Picture of Grant Damon - National Field Manager

Grant Damon - National Field Manager

Grant Damon is Field Works Group's National Field Manager, with 13 years in Australia's trades industry. He's responsible for the technicians who turn up at your door: how they're vetted, the standards they work to, and the experience customers have with them.

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