One of the persistent myths in the HVAC world is that AC systems need to be “recharged” with refrigerant every season, the way you might top off windshield washer fluid. This isn’t true. Refrigerant operates in a closed loop. If your system is low, something is leaking. We touched on this in our post on common HVAC myths, and it’s worth going deeper on the topic.
How to Tell If Your System Has a Refrigerant Leak
The signs aren’t always obvious, but there are a few consistent indicators. The most common is a system that runs but doesn’t cool effectively, even though everything else seems to be working. Another is ice forming on the refrigerant lines or on the indoor coil. When refrigerant is low, the remaining refrigerant expands differently and causes the coil to get too cold, leading to ice buildup. You might also hear a hissing or bubbling sound near the outdoor unit or along the refrigerant lines. In some cases, there’s a visible oily residue near the connections, which is refrigerant oil that has escaped along with the refrigerant itself.
Where Leaks Typically Develop
The most common locations are the evaporator coil, the schrader valve, the flare connections at the line set, and the condenser coil. Older systems are more prone to leaks because the metal components corrode over time. Coastal homes in Monmouth and Ocean County deal with this more aggressively due to salt air. If your system is showing signs of a leak and you’re not sure where to start, our air conditioning service team can run a diagnostic and locate the source.
Why Just Adding Refrigerant Isn’t the Answer
Adding refrigerant to a leaking system buys time, not a solution. The refrigerant will continue to escape. You’ll be back in the same situation, and in the meantime the system is operating below capacity and putting extra stress on the compressor. The right fix is to locate the leak, repair it, and then recharge the system to the correct level.
Depending on the location and severity of the leak, the repair can range from a straightforward fix to a coil replacement. If the coil is the source, it’s worth factoring in the age of the system before committing to the repair. An expensive coil replacement on a system that’s 14 years old deserves a second look, and we’ll be honest with you about where that line is.
A Note on Refrigerant Types
Older systems use R-22 refrigerant, which has been phased out of production. If your system uses R-22 and develops a leak, the refrigerant itself is expensive and increasingly difficult to source. This is another factor that shifts the repair-versus-replace conversation for older equipment. Our post on whether to replace just your AC system walks through that decision in more detail.
If you suspect your AC system has a refrigerant leak, call Rostron Premium Home Services at 732-374-9949. We serve Monmouth and Ocean County, New Jersey.
