If your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak, that is a problem for a number of reasons. Ideally, you want to identify and fix a refrigerant leak currently by knowing the signs to watch for.
If you do suspect that you have a refrigerant leak and need AC repair in North Las Vegas, give our team a call today. In the meantime, you can keep reading to learn more about why a refrigerant leak is so dangerous for your air conditioner and your family.
Cooling Issues
If you have a refrigerant leak, it can impact how well your AC cools your home. If you suspect that you have a refrigerant leak, don’t ignore the problem. You may be tempted to put off scheduling an AC maintenance or repair appointment if your home still feels reasonably cool.
However, a refrigerant leak is dangerous no matter how small or insignificant it seems. And waiting will not make the problem better. A refrigerant leak is not something that goes away on its own. Instead, your AC will just lose more and more cooling ability until the signs are obvious and you cannot ignore the problem any longer.
AC System Damage
A refrigerant leak can cause other problems in your air conditioner. If your system is not cooling as it should due to a lack of refrigerant, it’ll try to make up for that lack of cooling. This can mean that your air conditioner begins to short cycle as it continues to turn on again and again in an attempt to cool your home. As the AC works harder, the evaporator coil may also freeze from the refrigerant leaking out on it. And if the problem goes on for too long, the system may fail completely because of these two problems.
Your Family’s Health
First, it’s important to know that refrigerant leaks are not usually fatal when it comes to your health. However, you may experience symptoms including:
- Headaches
- Coughing
- Sinus problems
- Dizziness
- Nausea or vomiting
If any refrigerant comes into contact with your skin, you may experience mild burns. Even without the symptoms being fatal, a refrigerant leak is still dangerous because you can get sick and stay sick until you fix the problem. The risk also extends to your children and pets, too. In fact, their symptoms may be even worse than those of an adult.
Identifying a Refrigerant Leak
If you hear any bubbling, gurgling, or hissing noises, you may have a refrigerant leak. Bubbling and gurgling can happen in an area of the line where the refrigerant is in its liquid form. Whistling can happen if the refrigerant is in its gas form in the area of the leak.
You may also notice ice on the coils attached to your indoor unit. Refrigerant leaks can exacerbate this problem. Sometimes homeowners think that ice is normal since those coils are designed to cool the air for your home. But ice is a dangerous sign, and can actually keep the coils from being able to cool your home at all. Plus, when the ice melts, your risk water damage to your home.
A third sign of refrigerant leaks is to have indoor air that is significantly more humid than normal. When your air conditioner can’t cool because of a lack of refrigerant, it also cannot remove the extra humidity in your air. The air in your home may feel heavy and muggy because of this problem.
Bumble Breeze is your trusted local resource for HVAC, plumbing, and more. Give us a buzz! Schedule an appointment today for all your AC needs.
