No, this isn’t the same as your kid asking you if your “refrigerator is running?” and subsequently following up with “well, why don’t you catch it!” Refrigerant leaks are a real problem, and as funny as they might sound, they’re not a laughing matter when you encounter one in your own home. They can cause energy bills to skyrocket, they can cause a whole system breakdown, and even lead to decreased cooling power to the point where your home is as hot and humid as it was before you invested in an air conditioner. Refrigerant leaks need to be dealt with by professionals.
Today, we’ll be focusing on everything there is to know about refrigerant leaks. We’ll talk about how they spring up, what needs to be done about them, and how they factor into the need for air conditioning repair in Arlington, VA. Don’t worry, our team is here if you need us!
Why Is My Refrigerant Leaking?
This is a really good question and it depends on your specific situation. Here are just a few reasons as to why a refrigerant leak occurs in the first place.
- They spring up. Keeping your refrigerant pressurized is hard work and one small uptick in this pressure can lead to a sprung leak. In this case, it’s really not the end of the world. Our team can patch this kind of leak pretty easily.
- Old age. Over time, your refrigerant lines will structurally weaken. This will lead to more refrigerant leaks, where patching them is like putting a bandaid on an infected wound. At this point, you might need a whole system replacement.
- A botched installation. When systems aren’t installed correctly, it can lead to a whole slew of problems. Many of those problems can be refrigerant leaks. Sometimes there can be too much refrigerant in a smaller amount of space because of sizing needs and improper load calculations. Call our team if you think this could be the case.
Noticing a Leak
Take a look at your energy bill last year and look at the year before that as well. If you’re noticing a sharp increase in the price of your bill, then it could be from leaking refrigerant. Likewise, refrigerant leaks can be noticed by poorer comfort levels, a hissing and bubbling noise, and many other signs.
A good rule of thumb to remember is that if anything seems out of the ordinary, call us to have the problem diagnosed. We could talk for hours about the different signs of a refrigerant leak, but we just want homeowners to be more vigilant about all of the problems your AC could be experiencing.
Associated Problems
If you think that a refrigerant leak is no big deal, then let’s talk about some other associated problems. For starters, it’s making your home uncomfortable. Less refrigerant means your AC won’t be able to properly cool your home and you’ll be feeling too warm this summer. Also, gaseous refrigerant is poisoning your air. It’s bad for you to inhale and you should want to have the leak dealt with ASAP if it’s happening indoors or around where your children play.
Call Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. for comprehensive AC care.