What Causes Freon Leaks In Air Conditioner? 6 Surprising Signs!

If you are concerned that your AC unit has refrigerant leaks, you must be aware of what causes Freon leaks in air conditioners. This problem is common for most air conditioners, and it can be frustrating if you fail to fix it properly.

Most people who have their AC units serviced are usually told that it does not work properly due to a refrigerant loss. Do not be confused with the two terms I use; refrigerant and Freon are just the same things.

what causes Freon leaks in air conditioner

Anyway, if the AC losses its Freon, it only means that there is a leak. That is because it is not a part of the normal operation of an AC system.

An air conditioner maintains and circulates the same Freon amount over time, it must not decrease unless there is a leak.

But what causes the Freon to leak? We will answer that below, so keep reading.

What Causes Freon Leaks In Your Air Conditioner?

So, what causes Freon leaks in air conditioners?

Here are the following:

#1. Physical damage

Commonly, physical damages to an air conditioner are caused by children, animals, and lawnmowers.

If the compressor or condenser system is located near a house, it may be damaged by a lawnmower.

That is because the mower can throw sticks and rocks onto the unit.

You should also forbid your children to play near the unit if you want to avoid physical damages.

Most people would also build a block wall to protect their ac unit from any damages.

#2. Stress points

The air conditioning unit has numerous stress points. This includes the weld points at the copper line that leads to and out of the house.

To check for a leak, you can perform a nitrogen isolation test. This will divide the ac unit into four sections.

The most common stress point that causes leaks are the valves or access fittings. This is located close to the ground above the compressor.

In doing this, you have to make sure that the cap of the valves is seated well.

After you put the cap in the right position, put soapy water onto the valve and see if there are air bubbles as you run the system.

#3. Condenser unit vibration

Central air conditioners operate in two locations—one located inside your house and the condenser and compressor outside.

The compressor is consisting of a powerful fan and motor unit. These are housed inside a cabinet made of metal.

If the ac unit is turned on, this compressor motor works about 100% of the time. However, the outdoor unit is not seated properly; severe vibrations will be generated, which causes the freon line to weaken or even fracture.

You should also install the ac properly onto the vibration isolators. This will absorb any excess movement so that it will keep the vibration from roaming through the system. Not only that, but it will seek any stress point.

In case you have noticed that there is a vibration problem, then you should examine the isolators. You must replace anything worn or damaged.

Signs Of A Freon Leak

Noticing the signs of leaks early will help in maintaining the temperature in your room. You will also keep you away from paying for repairs or even from replacing the unit.

Here are the common signs that indicate a leak in your air conditioning unit.

#1. Higher electric bill than usual

If the Freon is leaking, your AC unit will have to work twice as much in making the room cool.

So in case, the electric bill has increased significantly, then it can be an indication of a Freon leak.

You have to check your electric bills if the usage levels are inconsistent. Please do this by comparing it to the bill for the same period of the previous year.

#2. Increased humidity

For a functional AC unit, it only takes 15 minutes to dehumidify the room properly.

#3. The air being blown is not cold

To know whether there is a Freon leak, the first thing you have to do is inspect the air that comes out of the air vents.

If it is not cold anymore, then it might be a sign that there is a leak.

#4. Low airflow

If the air conditioning unit loses some of its refrigerants, it will not produce the same airflow as it normally does.

#5. Hissing sounds

The Freon leaks might be due to the cracks or holes from the coils that are circulating the Freon.

A hissing sound may indicate various problems in your AC unit, but the most common among them is the Freon leak. It can even make a gurgling sound if the leak is too much.

#6. Tiny bubbles in the coils

The hole of the leaks can be easily detected if you observe some tiny bubbles from its evaporator coils.

It’s A Wrap!

Knowing what causes Freon leaks in air conditioners is not enough; you need to call a professional to fix it.

Also, take note of those signs to find out if there is a leak early.

There are many more things that you should know about your ari conditioner, click here.