One of the worst possible problems that can happen to your air conditioner is a refrigerant leak. Refrigerant is the lifeblood of any air conditioning system, and without it the system starts to suffer. Low refrigerant can cause all sorts of problems, up to and including breakdowns. With this in mind, you should keep a close eye out for various signs that your air conditioner is leaking refrigerant. If you do spot any of these signs, call a professional to look at it as soon as possible.
Drop in Output
This is a more general indicator that something is wrong with your system, but that could include low refrigerant. As the refrigerant level in your system drops, it will lower its ability to siphon heat from the air in your home. Lower output is one of the first signs that you have a refrigerant leak.
Ice on Unit
If you spot ice on your air conditioner, it means that your evaporator coil has frozen over. This could be caused by a number of different things, but low refrigerant in the coil is a very common culprit. If not fixed, the ice will slowly spread until it covers other parts of the system and breaks them.
Dirty Refrigerant Line/Dripping Fluid
Inside the refrigerant line is a certain amount of oil, in order to keep everything running smoothly. If a leak develops in the refrigerant line, that oil will start leaking out with the refrigerant. So, if you notice your refrigerant line has an especially greasy or dirty spot on it, it might be the location of a leak. Obviously, observing liquid actually leaking from the air conditioner is a sign that you have a refrigerant problem, as well.
If you have a problem with your air conditioner, call Touchstone Heating & Air Inc. We repair air conditioners throughout the Lake Butler, FL area.