This problem is a pretty common one, which is why we believe it warrants a whole blog post dedicated to the topic! Refrigerant leaks are problems that only really pertain to refrigerant-based heating and cooling systems, like central air conditioners and heat pumps. Luckily for us, that’s what most of our customers use in such a warm climate, so this might be an important topic to cover!
The truth is that if you detect your HVAC system is suffering from a refrigerant leak, you will need expert heat pump repair in Phoenix, AZ. Or, if you’ve got a central AC, you’ll still need pros to patch the leak and recharge the refrigerant. This should never be something you do on your own.
If you keep reading down below, we’ll talk about how to detect this problem and why it’s so vital that you hire the right team for the job.
How to Detect a Refrigerant Leak
A refrigerant leak is not a simple problem that has one cause. In fact, refrigerant leaks can have multiple different causes and symptoms, each being much different from the last. Down below, we’ve listed a few symptoms of a refrigerant leak that could be causing you problems.
- High energy bills. The first and one of the most frustrating symptoms of a refrigerant leak to notice are the high bills. High energy bills can be caused by refrigerant leaking from your system because it simply has to work harder and consume more energy to do the same work it has been doing.
- Hissing and bubbling noises. When refrigerant starts leaking from your system, it can make a hissing or bubbling noise. The hissing is the gaseous refrigerant escaping through a hole in the line, and the bubbling is the sound of air bubbles getting into the liquid refrigerant line. No, one noise is not better than the other, they’re both bad signs and require professional support!
- Poor comfort. If your heat pump or central air conditioner doesn’t have enough refrigerant to cool your home, then how is it supposed to keep temperatures comfortable? At that point, it’s just an oversized fan. If you’re suffering from poor temperature control in your home, it could be due to a refrigerant leak. Get that fixed!
- Short cycling. Short cycling is when an HVAC system abruptly stops after a brief cycle, only to start up again. This can happen frequently throughout the day and it’s a bad sign. Not only does it stress your system, but it also can lead to a spike in energy bills and more problems down the line.
How It Should Be Fixed Professionally
Fixing a refrigerant leak is not as simple as just patching a hole like you would a plumbing issue. Refrigerant exists in two states at once throughout your system. There’s gaseous refrigerant that is literally a floating gas. Then there’s liquid refrigerant. We haven’t even mentioned the bad health effects that can come from constant contact with refrigerant!
Only a trained professional has the equipment and training necessary to repair this appropriately.
Thomas Home Services can help today with your refrigerant leak! Call the World’s Friendliest Technicians!
