Oklahoma City summers are hot and sunny. As the weather warms up, your home’s air conditioning system plays a major role in keeping the house comfortable. A properly functioning air conditioner keeps you and your family comfortable and protected from the summer heat, but sometimes the AC goes out. The outage could be caused by a refrigerant leak. Not only do refrigerant leaks lead to a broken AC, but freon, a popular chemical used as the refrigerant, is a toxic substance that can be harmful to your health. Early detection of freon and other refrigerant leaks protects you and your home! Keep reading to discover the signs that your air conditioning may have a refrigerant leak, and reach out to Alliance Expert Services to have the problem fixed by Oklahoma City’s AC experts.
An old air conditioner could be to blame for your cooling issues. Be sure to ask whether an AC replacement is the right option for your home.
Top Signs Your Refrigerant Is Leaking
The refrigerant in your air conditioning system plays an important role in absorbing the indoor hot air for the system’s fans to exhaust out of the house. When the refrigerant leaks, the cooling power of the unit disappears. Some other common signs include:
- Temps Don’t Cool Down: As refrigerant levels are depleted, it will take longer to cool down the building. You may be tempted to change the temperature on the thermostat to compensate, resulting in an overworked AC system.
- High Energy Bills: When the refrigerant levels are low, the AC unit will work harder to cool the house. If you adjust the thermostat to compensate for the struggling unit, or if the leak goes unchecked, you can expect skyrocketing energy bills.
- Hissing and Gurgling: If your AC is starting to sound like a snake, there’s a high chance you have a refrigerant leak. Leaks stemming from larger holes can create a draining or gurgling sound.
- Frozen Coils: If the coils of your AC unit are frozen, a leak is likely to blame. Depleted refrigerant levels cause inadequate heat absorption. Without proper absorption, water collects outside the coils, resulting in condensation and freezing of the coils.
How Refrigerant Leaks Are Located and Eliminated
Due to the hazardous nature of a refrigerant leak, it is highly recommended that a qualified professional be called in to locate the source of the leak. The technicians at Alliance Expert Services know how to quickly identify leaks and fix the problem fast.
Your knowledgeable HVAC technician will take some of the following steps to locate and fix the freon refrigerant leak:
- The Soap Method: Applying soap is one of the simplest methods deployed to find a Soapy water will bubble up and give the location away when applied to the leak. This method does not work well in windy conditions or with smaller leaks.
- Ultraviolet (UV) or Fluorescent Dye: Adding dye to the refrigerant creates a trail for the HVAC technician to follow. A UV light traces the dye to the location of the leak. However, the use of such dyes may impact the future performance of your air conditioning system.
Being proactive with HVAC troubles saves you time, money, and heartache. Contact Alliance Expert Services today to get a headstart on taking care of all your air conditioning needs.
Your Refrigerant Leak Repair Experts
Alliance Expert Services knows the importance of having a smooth-running air conditioning system. Our experienced technicians can locate refrigerant leaks, handle freon replacement, and fix any other AC troubles during our routine Air Conditioning inspections. Your peace of mind is our priority.
We have over 30 years of experience working for the community of Oklahoma City and the surrounding area. Our technicians will take care of your home’s needs like it is their own, and leave you with peace of mind.
