How a Leaking Refrigerant Affects an Air Conditioning System
A home’s AC has a set level of refrigerant, known as its charge, balanced for ideal heat exchange.
An air conditioner works because of a process called heat exchange. The system absorbs heat inside a home using the evaporator coil, which lowers the indoor temperature. However, this heat must go somewhere; the outdoor condenser coil releases the heat to the outside. But for this process to work, the air conditioner needs something that can absorb and release heat, moving through the system in a cycle. This is called refrigerant, a chemical blend that can easily phase shift between liquid and gas as it absorbs and releases heat.
A home’s AC has a set level of refrigerant, known as its charge, balanced for ideal heat exchange. However, corrosion and damage can cause leaking to occur along the refrigerant lines or from the compressor, and this lowers the refrigerant, leading to severe issues for the air conditioner. Homeowners should be aware of the most common signs of refrigerant leaks or a low refrigerant charge so they can call for professional air conditioning repair services.
Impaired cooling
With undercharged refrigerant, the careful balance of heat exchange in an air conditioner can be disrupted. The lessened amount of refrigerant cannot absorb the amount of heat from the indoors as it normally should, and this means the AC may begin to underperform. Whenever the AC starts to underperform, call a professional to inspect the issue. Whether the problem is due to the refrigerant or something else, it must be repaired promptly.
Frost and ice along the coil
Because the refrigerant can no longer absorb the same heat level as it moves through the evaporator coil, it remains colder than usual. Moisture along the coil can freeze, creating a layer of frost that further impedes heat absorption. The frost turns to ice that grows until it completely blocks heat exchange from occurring. The ice can also cause damage to the coil.
Overheating compressor
The most destructive problem from the low refrigerant is to the compressor, the pump at the heart of an air conditioner. The change in pressure because of the low refrigerant charge forces the compressor to work harder. But it also causes the compressor to overheat and eventually push the unit to burn out and fail. A burnt-out compressor needs replacement, which is an expensive repair and often a reason to install a new air conditioner.
Watch for the warning signs of frost on the indoor coil, a drop in cooling power, or a hissing sound from the cabinet. These symptoms indicate a leaking refrigerant or another malfunction that needs attention. The longer these symptoms are left without repair, the worse they eventually can become, so call for professional assistance immediately.
Modern Air Conditioning & Heating is a Boulder City-based HVAC company offering 15 years of experience in residential and commercial HVAC services for all makes and models. You can also call us directly at (702) 919-4365.
