Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Refrigerant?

To say that your air conditioner in Tucson, AZ is important is to state the very obvious. Our weather in this part of the country is oppressively hot for much of the year, and you really need to know that your home cooling system is going to function effectively and efficiently if you hope to cool your home successfully. If it is leaking refrigerant, though, this simply will not be possible.

Your air conditioner is designed and engineered to work with a specific level of refrigerant. If this refrigerant charge should deplete due to leaks in the system, your comfort and your cooling equipment itself are in serious danger. Here are a few signs that your AC may be leaking refrigerant.

Is Your AC Blowing Tepid Air?

It is the refrigerant in your air conditioning system that is actually responsible for cooling the air in your home by absorbing heat from it. This occurs as refrigerant evaporates in the evaporator coil. If your air conditioner does not have a sufficient amount of refrigerant within, then it is going to struggle to cool air effectively. You may feel rather tepid, lukewarm air blowing throughout your home as a result.

Is There Ice On the AC?

OK, my AC is icy; it must be working really well! If you’ve ever thought that before, think again. Your air conditioner is designed to cool air, not freeze anything. If you notice ice on the evaporator coil, or on the refrigerant lines themselves, it could be due to low refrigerant levels. If enough heat is not absorbed, the refrigerant in the system can get too cold.

Is the System Hissing at You?

Have you heard your air conditioner hissing when you walk past it outside? If so, this could be the result of pressurized refrigerant leaking out of the system. It may not seem like a very big issue, but this “minor” problem could be a sign of serious trouble to come.