Refrigerant Leaks 101: Why You Should Call For An Air Conditioning Repair | Frisco, TX

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The refrigerator coolant inside the AC system is a chemical compound that you can find and either the gas or food state depending on whether the AC is turned on or off. It plays a very important role in cooling the air that’s inside your home.

What are the most common problems that you might run into is a refrigerant leak. If the refrigerant in your AC system is leaking, it’s a sign that you need air conditioning repair services immediately. A refrigerant leak is not something that you can easily fix by yourself. Instead, you’re going to want to hire an HVAC company in Frisco, TX that provides AC repair services.

4 Causes of AC Refrigerant Leaks

Many different things can cause the refrigerant to leak out from the AC system. The HVAC company will first need to be able to determine the cars behind the league before they can provide you with a more in-depth air conditioning repair plan. Let’s take a look at some of the most common causes below.

#1. Corrosion

A refrigerant leak can be an indication that there’s corrosion inside the unit. This happens if the unit is not properly maintained. It can also happen due to natural causes. With natural wear and tear, corrosion is practically inevitable at some point in time. The important thing is that you catch the issue early on, so you can get the air conditioning repair services that are needed in a timely manner.

Corrosion happens because the HVAC system is composed of many different metal components. Inside the AC, you’ll find a lot of copper tube walls. With time, these components can become corroded. When this happens, they’ll start to crack and holes will form. This allows the refrigerant to easily leak out.

The most common air conditioning repair solutions for this problem is to either patch up the leaks or replace the parts. Depending on which parts are corroded, the HVAC system may need to get the parts shipped to Frisco, TX. If this happens, you might need to wait a while for air conditioning repair services to be concluded.

#2. Weakened Joints and Connections

Time and age can also cause the joints and connections in the AC system to become weakened. When this happens, the joints will start to become thin and weak. They may also start to corrode or crack for no reason at all.

Once again, the most common type of air conditioning repair service recommended for this situation is to replace the joints and connections that are involved. One of the main reasons why you need to call an HVAC company is because it can be very difficult for you to find out which joints and connections are weakened. You’ll need to disassemble the entire AC system first. This is not an easy task. Fortunately, an experienced contractor will be able to get this done in no time. They’ll also be able to assemble the unit properly.

#3. Improper Installation of the AC System

Another reason why the refrigerant might be leaking out of the AC system is if the AC system was improperly installed, to begin with. In general, this is the most common reason if your AC system is new. For example, if you’ve just recently moved into a new home, a refrigerant leak is usually attributed to an improperly installed AC system. This is because the parts do not have enough time to corrode or weaken just yet.

An improperly installed AC system will have parts that are not fitting together properly. This will allow the refrigerant to escape in its gas or liquid form.

Once again, this isn’t a problem that you can easily fix yourself. You’ll need to contact an HVAC company immediately. They’ll have to take out the AC system and re-assemble and reinstall it. Depending on the type of AC system that is installed, this can either be done in a day or it will be a task that takes several days to complete.

#4. Factory Defects

Another thing that the HVAC company will look out for is factory defects. This can also be a reason why refrigerant is leaking out of your system. If there are any factory defects present, you might not necessarily need any air conditioning repair services at the moment. The HVAC company might be able to file a claim with the manufacturer to have a new AC system sent out.

5 Signs of Refrigerant Leaks

Refrigerant leaks can appear in many different ways. Depending on how severe the leak is, it might not be something that you notice right away. Below, we’ll take a look at 5 common signs of a refrigerant leak. If you notice any of these signs, contact an air conditioning repair company immediately. You’ll definitely want a Frisco, TX technician to come to take a look at the problem as soon as possible. The longer that you wait, the more severe the problem may become.

#1. A Spike in Your Utility Bills

If you’ve noticed that your utility bills have increased significantly, it might be a sign that there is a refrigerant leak. If the refrigerant in your AC system is leaking out, then your AC system will be a lot less efficient. You’ll notice the inefficiency when you take a look at your utility bills. This is because your AC system needs to compensate for the leak by working overtime. In short, it will use a lot more energy in order to do the same thing.

Once the refrigerant leak is dealt with, your utility bills should return to normal. If you’re not sure whether your bills are too high or not because you’ve just moved into a new home, you can consider asking your neighbors what they pay. Keep in mind that there are differences in the occupancy of the homes, as well as the area and size. However, comparing your utility bills to your neighbors can give you a baseline to work with.

#2. Longer Time to Cool the Home

Another sign that there’s a refrigerant leak is if it takes longer and longer for your AC system to cool your home. For example, it might’ve only taken several minutes for you to feel the AC system work. However, if the refrigerant is leaking from the system, you might notice the same difference in temperature drop after 30 minutes. This is because a refrigerant leak will cause the AC system to lose its cooling power.

Once the air conditioning repair company comes to fix the issue, your AC system will be back to its original shape in no time. I’ll be able to cool down your home easily. With that said, it might be important to note that this sign could also be an indication that there’s something else wrong. It’s not attributed to only refrigerant leaks.

#3. Weird Sounds

Do you hear weird sounds coming from your AC system? If so, you should call an air conditioning repair company immediately. When there’s a refrigerant leak, many homeowners often report hearing a hissing sound coming from the AC system. This is the sound of the refrigerant escaping from the cracks in the coils.

If you hear a gurgling sound, the problem is much more severe. It usually means that the crack is really large or that a large amount of refrigerant is leaking out. If you hear a gurgling sound, you can expect the air conditioning repair bill to be higher than if you were to hear a hissing sound. If you ignore the hissing sound, it will eventually become a gurgling sound. Because of this reason, you should always contact an air conditioning repair company as soon as possible if you hear any weird sounds coming from your AC system.

#4. Low Airflow

Another easy way to spot a refrigerant leak is if you turn on the AC system and notice that the AC system cannot produce enough cool air. Without refrigerant, it’s almost impossible for the AC system to work properly; thus, one of the most common signs of a refrigerant leak is low airflow.

You can put your hand in front of the vents to determine whether the airflow is low. If you’re still unsure of whether there is an airflow problem, you should contact an air conditioning repair company immediately.

Low airflow is not only attributed to refrigerant leaks. It could also be due to a dirty filter. In fact, most of the time, the issue is that the filter is clogged. This happens if you don’t replace the filter once a year. If you use your AC system regularly, you should replace the filters even more frequently. Fortunately, replacing a filter is a lot cheaper than fixing a leak. When replacing the filters, you should consider the type of filter that you have and whether it is appropriate for your needs. Some filters are much better at getting rid of the pollutants in the air than others.

#5. Frozen Evaporator Coil

This last sign is not something that you will notice unless you disassemble the AC system. Most of the time, an air conditioning repair technician in Frisco, TX will only notice this when they come to service your unit. When they disassemble the AC system, one of the first things that they’ll see is a frozen evaporator coil. When they notice this sign, they’ll need to do a thorough inspection to figure out where the leak is located.

Before they look for the leak, they’ll need to thaw out the evaporator coil. If the evaporator coil is frozen, there’s a very good chance that the AC system is not working properly. Although you might not have noticed it, it’s probably a lot less efficient and incapable of producing the cool air that you need.

This is why it’s so important to get your AC system serviced every year. Many experts recommend getting the system serviced in the beginning of spring. Regular maintenance and services will help to ensure that the AC system will last for more years to come.

The Dangers of a Refrigerant Leak

There’s a reason why it’s important to call an air conditioning repair company to fix a refrigerant leak instead of doing it yourself. For one, most of the time, it’s very difficult to identify where the leaks are situated. You’ll need to have specialized equipment and tools in order to determine where the issue lies.

Second, you shouldn’t deal with refrigerant leaks by yourself because refrigerant is a toxic chemical. If the refrigerant leaks through the vents, it can be very harmful to your body. Exposure to the leaks through inhalation can cause symptoms like loss of coordination, shortness of breath, and dizziness. Direct skin contact with the refrigerant can also lead to allergic reactions and chemical burns. In worst-case scenarios, it can cause much more severe symptoms to show up.

This is why it’s important to call an air conditioning repair company to deal with the refrigerant leak. The technicians will know how to handle the refrigerant. They will also have the right type of protective equipment to protect them from inhaling or coming into direct contact with the refrigerant.

Call Us for Air Conditioning Repair Services

Do you suspect that the refrigerant in your AC system is leaking? Or, is there something wrong with your AC system? If so, you should call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas for air conditioning repair services immediately. One of our contractors can schedule a service or an appointment with you at your convenience.

Our technicians are licensed and insured. They also receive ongoing training on a regular basis. We serve many different areas in Dallas and surrounding areas, including Frisco, TX, and one of our technicians can come out to inspect the problem at a time that’s convenient for you. More importantly, we provide affordable air conditioning repair services and can easily help you determine the cause of the refrigerant leak!