Air conditioning for your home is something that you most likely take for granted until you begin hearing strange noises or your house isn’t cooling as it should.
When something goes wrong, you shouldn’t panic. By contacting our team for an AC repair in Milton, FL, you’ll be up and running in no time. To get you started, let’s look at what may cause your system to lose refrigerant and what the warning signs of the problem are so you know when to call us.
Causes of Refrigerant Loss in Your AC
When you hear the term ‘low refrigerant,’ this is usually going to mean that a leak developed within your AC. But how does that happen? You might encounter a refrigerant leak due to:
- Corrosion of copper tubes
- Factory defects in the unit
- Improper AC installation
- Normal wear and tear causing thinning of the tubes
Warning Signs of a Refrigerant Leak
If you suspect that your AC is leaking refrigerant, there are signs you can look for to help you decide whether it is time to call an AC technician.
1. Short Cycling
If your AC is cycling on and off more often than normal, you have a short cycling system. This could be an indication that there’s not enough refrigerant running through your system, and it’s working harder than usual to try to cool down your house.
2. Reduced Cooling
A very common sign that most people will notice almost immediately is that their home is not cooling down as quickly as it usually does.
The refrigerant’s job is to remove the heat from inside your home. If your AC is leaking refrigerant, then it can’t keep up during the hottest hours of the day, resulting in your house not being as cool as it typically would be.
3. Hissing or Bubbling Noises
If you hear hissing from your AC unit, there is a good chance that you have a small leak, allowing gaseous refrigerant to escape. If you hear gurgling or bubbling, these sounds may be due to air bubbles in your refrigerant supply created by a leak too.
4. Higher Utility Bills
If your AC is not working as efficiently as it should due to leaking refrigerant, you’ll see higher utility bills since the system has to work harder to cool your home. You can compare last year’s bill with your current bill to see if there is a significant difference that could indicate that your AC is not working properly.
5. Ice Build-Up On the Evaporator Coil
If the refrigerant is low, ice will build up on those coils which is a sure sign that you have a problem and need to call an AC technician. This is because the low refrigerant supply will be unable to absorb enough heat to warm the coil, leading to ice developing on said coil.
Address Refrigerant Leaks With Expert Help
If you are experiencing any of these signs, you should have your unit checked immediately to prevent any additional damage or a complete breakdown of your unit.
Contact Commander Air Inc. to get the quality AC repairs you need. Your hometown heating and cooling specialist for three generations.