When residential air conditioners are maintained and working properly, they are a sealed system that won’t leak refrigerant. However, over time with neglect or wear, leaks can develop, causing the system to run inefficiently. The following are some of the most common places for refrigerant leaks to develop.
Flare Fittings
Flare fittings are used wherever metal tubing attaches to a component, such as when the refrigerant lines connect to the compressor. These use a flare nut that compresses the ends of the fittings together when tightened. Over time, however, these fittings will loosen because of how the system vibrates, especially in the outdoor condensing unit.
Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil sits in the indoor unit and transfers heat from the air circulating through the system to the refrigerant. Since the evaporator coil is inside your home, a leak from this coil allows the refrigerant to leak into your home which can cause headaches, difficulty breathing, coughing, nausea, vomiting and skin and eye irritation.
Evaporator coils often begin leaking because of corrosion caused by the formation of formic acid on the coils. This acid develops due to the chemical reaction between humidity, copper and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in great concentration in residential air. You can reduce this corrosion by cleaning the evaporator coil every year and working to reduce the VOCs in your home’s air.
Condenser Coil
The condenser coil sits in the outside unit and is responsible for venting heat from the refrigerant to the outside air. Similar to the evaporator coil, corrosion allows small leaks to form on the coil. However, the cause of the corrosion is often different for condenser coils in Florida.
The air in coastal Florida contains more salt than does areas further inland. That salt often settles on the condenser coil, which traps moisture and accelerates how quickly the coil rusts. A technician will clean the outside coil during routine maintenance, and you may want to gently flush it with hose water an additional one or two times throughout the year.
Capillary Tube
The capillary tube runs between the condenser and the evaporator. Its job is to convert the high-pressure liquid refrigerant into a low-pressure liquid spray. These tubes develop leaks due to corrosion, vibration, insufficient refrigerant charge, system freezes, and overheating. A technician will inspect the visible capillary tubes during routine maintenance. If they find low refrigerant and you approve an additional investigation, the capillary tubes are one area they may focus more attention on in identifying a leak.
Rubber Seals
Most air conditioners have a wide collection of rubber seals that help keep the system sealed properly. Over time, these seals can become brittle and start leaking if not properly maintained. If a technician finds low refrigerant pressure, they may investigate the rubber seals to make sure they are in good condition. The big part of replacing these seals is removing the refrigerant properly before attempting to disassemble any part of the unit that could allow the refrigerant to leak out into the atmosphere.
Compressor
Some compressor faults will also cause a refrigerant to leak. You may notice ice forming on the compressor if the issue is located at or near this component. These kinds of compressor faults happen as a result of physical damage to the compressor from either storms, electrical surges, or excessive strain. The compressor experiences excessive strain when there are airflow restrictions in the system, insufficient refrigerant caused by other leaks, or short cycling because of other problems in the system.
Checking Refrigerant Levels and Preventing Leaks
A refrigerant leak can add substantial strain to your air conditioner, to the point of ruining the compressor and requiring an expensive repair or system replacement. Catching a refrigerant leak early prevents this damage and maintains your system’s efficiency.
During routine AC maintenance, the technician will test the refrigerant charge. If it’s low, you can resolve the leak and recharge the system before it adds exceptional strain to the system. Further, technicians commonly check and tighten flare fittings to prevent loosening and leaking from these vulnerable areas.
For more than 75 years, people around Sarasota have trusted AirNow Air Conditioning to keep their homes comfortable. Our award-winning team provides heating and AC maintenance, repair, and installation, along with indoor air quality solutions, duct cleaning and attic insulation. Call to schedule an AC maintenance or air conditioning repair visit with one of our NATE-certified technicians today.
