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Lionel Boulin • Aug 07, 2020

Refrigerant Leaks: Diagnosis & Locations

Your air conditioner works to keep your home cool and comfortable, but it’s not a perfect system. Over time, it can develop a number of issues, with refrigerant leaks being one of the most common. To keep your AC system in good shape, you’ll want to address this problem ASAP by turning to one of the trusted  HVAC companies  in the area, Home Air Services. You can count on our trained, experienced technicians to track down these leaks and perform the appropriate repairs. But first, here’s what you need to know:

What is a Refrigerant?

Refrigerant refers to a chemical blend that allows your AC system to do its work. Your air conditioner is designed to use a specific amount of this mixture–called the ‘charge’. The loss of refrigerant can compromise the overall performance and service life of your system. You’ll know there’s a possible refrigerant leak in your AC unit when:

1. Your air conditioner is running longer and louder than usual.
2. The air vents are blowing air that’s only slightly cool–and sometimes even warm.
3. There’s a noticeable increase in your energy bills, more than what you’d expect in the summer.
4. Your home never quite reaches the desired temperature.

An  air conditioning repair  may take care of this problem if diagnosed early, but if overlooked for a long time a refrigerant leak can cause extensive wear and tear on your system, which eventually could necessitate a complete air conditioning replacement.

Tracking Down Refrigerant Leaks

Our dependable HVAC technicians will conduct a comprehensive inspection of your system, determining the cause of the leak by checking three common locations. These include:

1. Evaporator Coils.  These tubes tend to vibrate slightly when the AC unit is running, causing them to rub together or against other objects inside the system. Holes may develop because of this frequent friction, resulting in leaks.

2.Condenser Coils.  Like evaporator coils, condenser coils have U-bends held together by a tubular metal sheet. As your AC operates, the ends of the copper tubes rub against the sheet metal at the end of the tubes, allowing holes to develop where refrigerant can escape.

3. Refrigerant Line Sets.  Yard work or renovation projects near the refrigerant lines can increase the potential of leaks. Some equipment, after all, can easily pierce through these line sets. If the leaks are large enough, a full replacement may be necessary.

Home Air Services is one of the area’s premier  HVAC installation contractors. With our top-tier solutions, we’ll make sure your air conditioning system provides the superior cooling performance you expect. We serve Rockville, MD, and the surrounding areas. Call us at (301) 585-8100 today or fill out this  contact form  to schedule a consultation.

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