Having the right amount of refrigerant in your AC system is essential to staying cool in this never ending summer. Refrigerant leaks are something that can be quite common in AC units that are getting older and inching towards the end of their useful life. It is a problem that, if not dealt with, can become one of the reasons you aren’t staying cool when your unit is on. Air Supply Heating & Air Conditioning is here to talk about leaking refrigerant and what can be done about this problem.

How Do Refrigerant Leaks Occur?

A common misconception among homeowners is that refrigerant is something that needs to be filled up or recharged from time to time. You don’t use up refrigerant like you do the fuel in your vehicle. This substance is in a closed system, so it is constantly being recycled through. The only time you would ever have to have refrigerant added to the system is when there is a leaking problem. Leaks happen over time because the compressor keeps that refrigerant at such a high pressure, that the pipes holding it can start to rupture with time. The challenge that comes with fixing it is finding out where the leak is coming from in the first place. Once that is done, there are repairs that can be made so you don’t have to have the system replaced.

How Do I Know if Refrigerant is Leaking?

There are multiple signs that could be present any time you are dealing with a refrigerant leak. Here is what you should look out for.
– Lukewarm Air: When you turn on your AC system, you should start to feel a significant difference in the indoor temperature within the hour. If you are feeling nothing but lukewarm air coming from the vents in your home, it is a sign that you could have a refrigerant leak somewhere in your system. With a leak, you don’t have that refrigerant necessary to cool the air down.
– Bubbling or Hissing: Like mentioned above, refrigerant is kept at a high pressure inside pipes within your AC unit. If there is a leak, you are more than likely going to be able to hear it hissing or bubbling. If you notice that these noises are present, you need to get your AC fixed as soon as possible.
– Cooling Inefficiency: When the refrigerant levels are below where they need to be in your unit, it causes the whole system to run less efficiently. Not only will you not be cool, but you will also be paying more to not be cool.

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If you are experiencing problems with your AC unit, you can turn to Air Supply Heating & Air Conditioning to get to the bottom of it. We will diagnose the problem and let you know the most viable solution to it so you can stay comfortable in this relentless heat. Call us today!