Though we may still have a couple of cool months left ahead, soon enough the weather will warm up, and when it does you\u2019ll want to ensure you have a properly functioning air conditioner. Making a preventive maintenance appointment at least once a year is essential to keeping your system in good working condition. Hopefully you won\u2019t have any detrimental problems the first time you go to turn on your AC this year, but we\u2019ve shared some signs below that indicate you might have a refrigerant leak, in case you are having issues.<\/p>\n
Refrigerant is what absorbs the heat in your home, so if there isn\u2019t enough of it, your air conditioner can\u2019t absorb enough heat to cool the air well. So if you notice that your house is taking much longer to cool off than it has in previous years, or if you notice your supply vents are blowing out warm air, you may very well have a refrigerant leak.<\/p>\n
If your AC is low on refrigerant, it won\u2019t work as efficiently as it has in the past. It will run much longer than necessary to cool your home, increasing your energy bills as a result. Keep in mind, an aging system also loses efficiency after 10 years or so, so it\u2019s best to have a full inspection of your system if you discover you are paying more.<\/p>\n
When your system is low on refrigerant, the inside AC unit\u2019s evaporator coil gets too cold, which causes cold liquid refrigerant to flow back, causing the surrounding moisture on the refrigerant line to freeze up. Eventually this will also damage the outside unit\u2019s compressor. If you notice ice on your refrigerant line, you should contact a professional right away.<\/p>\n