Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Refrigerant?

As the months get warmer and warmer leading into the summer, homes all over Los Angeles are starting to turn on their air conditioners. If you’re one of the few houses dealing with air conditioner issues, it could be due to a refrigerant leak. But what are the symptoms, and why is it leaking in the first place?

There could be a couple of reasons why an AC is leaking refrigerant, and at Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, our technicians have seen all of them. From damaged parts to manufacturing defects, we’ve seen all the causes behind air conditioner refrigerant leaks and successfully repaired hundreds of central AC systems throughout Los Angeles and the surrounding areas.

In this article, we’ll explain why an AC leaks refrigerant, what symptoms to look out for, and who should repair this issue. With this information, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the red flags associated with air conditioners leaking refrigerant and feel more assured that this issue can be fixed.
Let’s jump right in!

How to Tell if AC Is Leaking Refrigerant?

Multiple signs can indicate a refrigerant leak in your air conditioner, but it can be tricky for homeowners to notice them without knowing the common symptoms. Some of these symptoms are more common than others and are more likely to occur in older AC units. Without refrigerant, central cooling systems cannot properly absorb and release heat and create cool air.

One of the first signs of a refrigerant leak is an air conditioner that struggles to achieve the desired temperature when attempting to cool a home.

AC Refrigerant Leak Signs: Continuous Cooling Cycle

One symptom of a refrigerant leak is when an air conditioner continuously runs a cooling cycle. When air conditioners are turned on, they stay running until they reach the desired temperature. After that, the thermostat will remain idle until the indoor temperature rises again and the cooling system will turn on again.

If your AC is dealing with a refrigerant leak, however, the system will keep running in an attempt to reach and maintain the desired temperature. As the system keeps running, it will consume more energy, resulting in higher utility bills. Even worse, the AC will run nonstop and still fail to cool down your home.

Sometimes, a central air conditioner won’t blow cool air, which is another indicator of a possible refrigerant leak.

AC Refrigerant Leak Signs: Lack of Cold Air

Your central air conditioning system will not blow any cool air if there’s a refrigerant leak. Since there isn’t enough refrigerant cycling in the AC to absorb heat, it’s unable to produce enough chill air to cool down your home significantly.

This symptom is more evident than others because you will immediately notice something is off with your central AC unit if it’s on and not blowing any cool air. This can be most unpleasant during the summer when air conditioners are essential to keeping homes cool.

If your AC is constantly running and not blowing cool air because of a refrigerant leak, you’ll notice a rise in your utility bills.

AC Refrigerant Leak Signs: Increased Utility Bills

A refrigerant leak can cause a spike in your energy bills because it makes your air conditioner work harder than usual. A central AC leaking refrigerant will experience a drop in cooling efficiency and require more energy to cool down your home, resulting in increased utility bills.

Pay close attention to your energy bills when running your AC, and keep an eye out for any abnormal billing. Even if it’s not related to a refrigerant leak, it can point toward other underlying issues with your air conditioner.

You can see your energy bill online or on paper, but refrigerant leaks aren’t always visible. In the next section, we’ll review how hissing noises from your AC can mean there’s a refrigerant leak.

AC Refrigerant Leak Signs: Hissing Noises

Leaking AC refrigerant may make hissing sounds from indoor or outdoor units. During the cooling cycle, refrigerant deals with an increase or decrease in pressure. If there’s a leak, the refrigerant may sometimes make a hissing sound when it’s going through depressurization.

A common misconception about refrigerant leaks is that they leave a visible puddle of refrigerant fluid near the air conditioner. Refrigerant goes through different states of matter, and it is gaseous when it leaks, making it tricky for most homeowners to be aware of. It’s also odorless and hard to smell since it quickly disappears when released into the air.

Ice forming on the coils is one of the last and sometimes the most common signs of an AC refrigerant leak.

AC Refrigerant Leak Signs: Ice Forming

If you notice ice forming on some of the parts of your air conditioner, it could indicate a refrigerant leak. A refrigerant leak will decrease the pressure within the lines transporting refrigerant and the evaporator coil, causing it to freeze and create ice.

As the ice melts, it can leak water onto the air conditioner system and the home. The melted water can cause further damage to the AC and home. Water damage on your home or air conditioner can become expensive to repair or replace.

Whether it’s ice appearing or a lack of cool air circulating, there are a few scenarios that caused a refrigerant leak in the first place.

What Causes AC Refrigerant Leaks?

Various factors could cause the symptoms behind a refrigerant leak. Here’s a summary of some of the most common causes of air conditioner refrigerant leaks.

• Damaged parts: External factors can physically damage the lines that carry refrigerant. These impacts can cause cracks or small holes where the refrigerant can escape. A damaged evaporator coil can also leak refrigerant.
• Faulty connections: On rare occasions, the fittings between the refrigerant lines that connect to the coils can be defective. The faulty connections can lead to refrigerant leaks.
• Normal wear and tear: As air conditioning systems age, parts can become corroded or worn over time. This can lead to tiny holes or cracks that can leak refrigerant.

A technician’s diagnosis is the only way to determine what’s causing your air conditioner to leak refrigerant.

How Do I Stop My AC Refrigerant From Leaking?

If you suspect your central AC is leaking refrigerant, the best course of action is to call a professional technician. With their special tools, a technician can connect a meter to check refrigerant levels.

If the refrigerant levels don’t meet the manufacturer’s standards, the technician can further investigate and confirm what caused the leak. After that, the technician can perform several repairs necessary to correct the problem.

AC Refrigerant Leaks: Next Steps

A central AC system dealing with a refrigerant leak can become ineffective at cooling your home. Now that you’ve read about what symptoms to look for, you can stay vigilant whenever you notice a drop in your AC’s cooling efficiency. Although you may not be able to fix the AC, you can have conversations with a technician about what caused the refrigerant leak in the first place so you can stay in the loop.

Since 2007, we’ve helped homeowners understand why their AC is leaking refrigerant and repaired their cooling systems. We’ve seen all the different symptoms that could indicate a refrigerant leak and have repaired air conditioners all over Los Angeles and the surrounding areas.

If you’re interested in having a technician come and investigate your possible air conditioner refrigerant leak, contact us using one of the buttons below. You can also directly book an appointment through our online HVAC scheduler.

Annual maintenance for your air conditioner can help you stay on top of any possible refrigerant leaks. Check out this article to learn more about what else is included in professional AC maintenance.