They say that everything is bigger in Texas, but when your AC refrigerant starts showing signs of leakage, it gets hotter too.
An AC refrigerant leak can happen from age and simple wear and tear. When it’s been years since you’ve bought a new AC, it may not come as a shock that it’s leaking. However, you must act fast when the signs show. Not only is an AC refrigerant leak a health hazard, but Texas heat can be downright dirty when it wants to.
Are you a Texas homeowner suffering from a refrigerant leak? Or maybe you’re just looking to find out what are the top signs of a leak? Nevertheless, fixing your AC becomes a top priority during the hot summer months. Continue reading to figure out the 6 signs that you have an AC refrigerant leak.
6 Signs of an AC Refrigerant Leak
Having an unresolved refrigerant is a health hazard to yourself and the individuals living in your home. Though rare, you can suffer from refrigerant poisoning due to inhaling freon gas. This will result in dizziness, nausea, and even frostbite.
In knowing the risks of such leakage, you must remember the 6 signs of an AC refrigerant leak:
1. Longer Cooling Time
If you flip on your AC and find yourself waiting longer than usual for the home to cool, then you may have a refrigerant leak.
Your AC will have a harder time reaching the temperature set. This will result in your home not being cold as fast as you’d like it. This can be a drag if you’re someone coming home from a summer vacation or trip; you’ll be suffering from the heat for hours!
2. Hissing Noises
Noises such as your fan churning are normal for your air conditioner. However, hissing noises are considered sure signs of an AC refrigerant leak.
An AC leak occurs when cracks and holes in the coils allow refrigerant liquid to seep through. As a result, you’ll hear a hissing sound. If the holes are large enough, your unit will have a bubbling or gurgling noise.
3. It’s Warmer Than Usual
An AC refrigerant leak not only means a longer cooling time, but it also means the air will not be as cold either. Your home will be way more humid. If you find yourself sweaty with your clothes sticking to your skin, even though your AC has been running for hours, then it’s time to check your unit.
4. Higher Electricity Bills
When your home is warm, it’s instinctive to turn down the thermostat; you’ll do so without even noticing. That is until your electricity bill comes in, and you’re shocked at how much higher it’s gotten!
Additionally, your AC unit is going to have trouble navigating the leakage. It will begin to use up more energy to perform its duty. This will result in an energy-use spike, which will hike up the costs on your next bill.
5. Frozen Evaporator Coils
If your AC refrigerant leakage is bad, then you won’t have enough liquid so the evaporator coils can absorb heat. Your coils will freeze over from the condensation. When checking your AC, make sure your coils do not have ice forming. If they do, then you likely have a leakage issue at hand.
6. Something Smells Sweet
When something smells sweet in the house, it usually causes great joy; however, you should be extra cautious when a chloroform-like scent is attached to it. Smelling these fumes is a hazard and can result in extreme health issues. Even if you are unsure if this is an AC refrigerant leak, call a professional to check out your home to be sure.
Water vs Refrigerant AC Leak
It’s important you know the differences between a water and refrigerant leak. After all, it can be pretty embarrassing to freak out an HVAC technician over simple AC water leakage.
It’s normal for your AC to leak water since it is dealing with condensed water. Most of this liquid drops into a pan and is released outside. If you have water leaking inside your house, you could have an issue with the plugged drain line, drainage pump, or the pan itself. It’s annoying to have water leaking inside your home, so a proper HVAC professional should be able to fix this for you rather efficiently.
The signs of water leakage are a moldy smell, water damage, and standing water. You won’t have any of the same signs as a refrigerant leak, which is a more serious matter. When refrigerant liquid leaks, it can evaporate and become a gas. Soon enough, your home is filled with these toxic gases.
How to Fix an AC Refrigerant Leak
The best way to fix a refrigerant leak is to leave it to a professional. Contact a certified HVAC company that can properly deduct the issues occurring with your AC.
For example, if you are a homeowner in Texas, Luxury Air is an AC and heating company that specializes in residential services and maintenance. We invite all Montgomery County clients, from Conroe to The Woodlands to Magnolia, with open arms! The company is factory-trained, properly licensed, insured, and even does installations from an award-winning Carrier distributor.
If you aren’t able to find a trustworthy company to check your unit, a fellow technician will be able to let you know if you have a leak or not. Nonetheless, it’s crucial to have an HVAC technician perform the repair.
Take The Extra Precaution and Contact an HVAC Professional
When in doubt, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Contact your local HVAC technician to make sure an AC refrigerant leak isn’t hurting you or your family’s health. And, of course, having a humid hot house isn’t ideal either.
Do you live in the Texas area and think you could have a leakage problem? Give us a call, and we can have your home cooled down in a breeze!
