An electro-mechanical system like your air conditioner can develop a number of problems. Among the more common problems the cooling professionals from Climate Masters see are refrigerant leaks. The thing to keep in mind about these kinds of leaks is that they aren’t always visible. This is because refrigerant runs throughout your entire AC system as it completes a cooling cycle, so a leak can develop anywhere the refrigerant is. However, there are some fairly distinct signs your AC will give if a leak has developed:
- Warm air blowing through your vents – refrigerant plays a very important role in your air conditioning system: it helps facilitate heat transfer. Every air conditioner is manufactured to operate with an exact amount of refrigerant (this is determined by the maker of your AC, so it varies from system to system), so when a leak develops, it throws off the heat release/cooling process. One result can be warm air blowing through your home.
- No air at all – many of today’s air conditioners are equipped with a safety switch that stops the air conditioner from operating once a refrigerant leaks has been detected. You should not bypass this switch or try to force your AC back on. Instead, get the leak repaired and your technician will reset the switch.
- Ice formation on your indoor coils – when there is a leak in your AC system, the warm components get too hot and the cool components get too cold. This creates condensation which quickly turns to ice on the cold parts, aka, your indoor coils.
Refrigerant leaks need to be repaired, and the person repairing the leak needs to be an expert. Leaving a leak alone only makes the leak worse and puts more stress on your air conditioning system in Ponte Vedra, FL. If you are seeing the signs of a possible refrigerant leak, call the cooling experts at Climate Masters today!
