When it comes to AC problems, there are some things that you can put off service for. A refrigerant leak is not one of those things. If you suspect that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak, you need to get the problem fixed right away.
A refrigerant leak is a sign that it’s time to schedule an air conditioning repair in New Brunswick, NJ. You can keep reading to learn more about how to identify refrigerant leaks, as well as why they are so dangerous when they go unaddressed.
Potential for Damage
Refrigerant is a chemical, and when it is inside of its airtight lines of your air conditioner it is perfectly safe. But if these lines get a leak, releasing refrigerant into your home, the chemical can do a lot of damage. It can cause damage directly to the surrounding air conditioner parts and even surfaces of your home. In addition to fixing a refrigerant leak, you may be left fixing other parts of your air conditioner or even repairing the structure of your home. You definitely want to identify and fix refrigerant leaks right away.
Refrigerant leaks can also cause damage indirectly. When your air conditioner is low on refrigerant, it doesn’t work as well. During a cooling cycle, air will not cool down as much as it needs to. As a result, your condenser coils may develop ice, leading to even more problems. Ice on your evaporator coils means that your air conditioner will not have good airflow and won’t be able to cool your home effectively, if at all.
Strain on Your AC
The damage is not always as obvious as visible chemical damage or ice on coils. Sometimes, the damage is deep within your air conditioning system and results from strain caused by the refrigerant leak. When your air conditioner cannot cool your home as well, it stays on for longer cycles. Your thermostat measures the air temperature, and usually at the end of a cooling cycle it signals for your AC to turn off because your home has reached the desired temperature.
But without adequate refrigerant, lukewarm air is blowing out of your vents. It may be just cool enough that your home still feels comfortable, and yet your home never reaches the temperature set on your thermostat. As a result, cooling cycles last longer or your thermostat continues signaling for your air conditioner to turn on again and again.
Short cycling is a problem because your air conditioner was not designed to turn on and off at frequent intervals. This can put a lot of stress on the motor in addition to wearing the parts down faster. You may have a complete air conditioner break down in the near future or have to make some very expensive repairs.
Identifying a refrigerant leak and getting the repair fixed fast is much more affordable than the alternative. During the repair appointment, our team will also recharge your refrigerant to get it back to an adequate level for providing cooling to your home. Remember, your refrigerant levels will never go down over the lifespan of your air conditioner unless there is a leak.
Contact Scaran today to schedule an appointment with our professionals for AC service.
