Summertime in Gurnee, IL, and the surrounding areas is warm and humid. You’ll turn to your air conditioning system for relief from the heat and humidity. A refrigerant leak in your cooling system is a serious problem, and it’ll have a big impact on your comfort. Keep in mind these three signs that your air conditioning system is leaking refrigerant.
Loss of Cooling Power
If the air blowing from your home’s vents feels warm, your AC could have a refrigerant leak. The loss of refrigerant means that less of the warm air can be removed from your home, and less cool air is produced. You may notice more frequent cycling of the air conditioning system, and you may even have to lower the thermostat in order to feel comfortable.
Frozen Coils
When there’s not enough refrigerant in the evaporator coils, the air conditioner can’t absorb enough heat from your home. Condensation will form on the coils, and it may freeze. You may notice frost, ice, or icicles on the unit. The ice or frost may melt between cooling cycles, so you may also notice a puddle forming on the floor.
Unusual Sounds or Smells
A hissing sound coming from your air conditioner could mean that it’s leaking refrigerant. The chemical refrigerant is maintained at high pressure, so it hisses when it leaves the coil. You may smell an odor of ether, chloroform, or sweetness from the vents or the air conditioner itself. This is the odor of the refrigerant. According to the Department of Energy, refrigerant leaks are harmful to the environment, and exposure to the refrigerant may be harmful to your health. Only trained technicians should handle refrigerant and repair leaks, so it’s best to call for professional AC services.
To learn more about the signs of a refrigerant leak from your air conditioner, check out Herchenbach Mechanical Inc.’s professional AC services, or call us today for additional info.
