One of the essential components that makes an air conditioner work is refrigerant, a chemical blend that courses through the cooling system and changes from gas to liquid and back again. As the refrigerant absorbs and releases heat, it moves heat from the inside of a home and deposits it outside. This is called heat exchange, and it’s the secret to how electro-mechanical air conditioning works.
During heat exchange, the amount of refrigerant inside an AC doesn’t lower. As long as the system is working normally, the air conditioner will not lose of its charge of refrigerant. However, the charge can drop if leaks develop along the refrigerant lines or inside the compressor. Loss of refrigerant is a serious repair problem that will impair an AC and possibly cause it to break down permanently if not dealt with.
If you notice a loss of cooling from your AC or hear an unusual hissing noise coming from its cabinets, call Johns Refrigeration right away. Since 1970, we’ve handled air conditioning repair in Scottsdale, AZ that keeps customers coming back to us.
Here are the troubles you may encounter with your AC due to leaking refrigerant:
Loss of Cooling/Rise in Bills
With less refrigerant inside an air conditioner, the balance of heat exchange will weaken. The indoor evaporator coil will be able to absorb less heat, and the outdoor condenser coil will be able to exhaust less heat. The air conditioner as a whole will start to lose its cooling power, and consequently it will strain harder to reach its target temperature, leading to a spike in electrical bills.
Ice along the Evaporator Coil
One of the major warning signs of leaking refrigerant is ice and frost developing along the indoor coil. Although it might seem strange that losing refrigerant would cause ice to appear, the reason this happens is that the remaining refrigerant in the coil doesn’t warm up enough, and the cold along the coil will start to freeze the water vapor in the air. This creates a downward spiral, since ice will further prevent the coil from absorbing heat, leading to more ice. Eventually, a solid ice block will form over the coil and prevent any heat exchange from occurring.
A Burnt-Out Compressor
This is the most serious consequence of a loss of refrigerant: if the compressor burns out, usually the entire air conditioner will need replacement. The danger to the compressor is that a reduced level of refrigerant inside it will cause it to overheat, eventually melting its wiring and ruining it. For this reason, you cannot delay when you notice any sign of lowered refrigerant.
One way to avoid the troubles from refrigerant leaks is to enroll your AC in a maintenance program. During a yearly inspection, a technician will check the refrigerant level to make sure that it hasn’t lost charge. If there are leaks, the technicians will locate and seal them, and then recharge the refrigerant to its proper level.
When you need air conditioning repairs in Scottsdale, call up the experienced team at Johns Refrigeration. We will have your cooling restored in no time.