Most people don’t give much thought to their air conditioner or heat pump until it stops working. The unit’s refrigerant, or Freon, is what allows it to produce cool or warm air for your home. Some telltale signs exist that may indicate your air conditioner or heat pump has a refrigerant leak.
No Cool Air In the Summer
If you notice that your air conditioner or heat pump suddenly does not seem to be cooling your home as usual, you may have a leak. Check your vents to feel if the air coming out is cool. If not, call Haldeman Mechanical to check your unit.
Running Continuously
If you have a refrigerant leak, your unit will run more than usual. That’s because it is struggling to cool the air in your home with less Freon than it needs to get the job done.
Frozen Evaporator or Condenser Coils
If you notice changes in how your air conditioner or heat pump is working, take a peek inside your unit. If you see ice crystals forming on the coils, you probably have a leak.
High Humidity
If your system is not cooling as efficiently as usual, you will also notice an increase in the humidity levels in your home.
Higher Utility Bills
Have your utility bills suddenly taken a jump? If your unit is struggling to cool your house and running for extended periods of time, you will see a definite spike in your utility bills. If your heat pump runs more than usual in heating mode and your utility bills are higher than normal, the heat pump usually needs to be serviced. When the heat pump does not produce enough heat, heat is then provided by auxiliary heat, which costs more.
What to Do If You Suspect a Leak
Give Haldeman Mechanical a call immediately. Refrigerant leaks are best to fix when caught early. Better still, schedule a regular maintenance check on your unit before the cooling season begins and with heat pumps, again before the start of heating season. This will ensure that your unit is working at peak efficiency in all seasons.