Refrigerant plays a huge role in your air conditioner’s cooling process. Essentially, its job is to cool the warm air from inside your home, which is then pushed through the various components of the system.
So, how can you tell if your air conditioner is leaking coolant? Here are five warning signs.
- Air coming out of vents doesn’t feel cool. If the air coming from your home’s vents feels warm, there may be a leak somewhere in your system.
- Home doesn’t feel cool and comfortable. If there’s a coolant leak in your system, it’s going to take much longer to cool your home off on even a mild day. You may find yourself checking and adjusting the thermostat more often than usual.
- Frozen coils. If your system’s evaporator coils aren’t able to absorb heat with the help of refrigerant, condensation can form and freeze. While you may not be able to see the frozen coils themselves, you may notice a puddle where the frozen condensation has started to melt between cooling cycles.
- Increased energy bills. If you’ve noticed that your monthly utility bills are higher than normal, this could indicate that a refrigerant leak is causing your system to work overtime to try keeping your home cool and comfortable.
- Ice. Often, ice will begin to form on the copper line that goes to your outdoor unit whenever there is a refrigerant leak.
If you have noticed any of these warning signs for a refrigerant leak, contact a cooling professional immediately to get your unit inspected and repaired. Failure to do so may result in a system breakdown and an uncomfortable home!