uneven temperatures in your home

If your AC is running but it isn't cooling your home, the problem might be the low refrigerant. Since refrigerant doesn't leak out unless there is a hole or a loose connection in the lines or coils, you'll need an AC repair technician to look at the problem. There are laws that pertain to handling refrigerant, so DIY repairs or filling of refrigerant is prohibited. Instead, you'll need to work with a licensed AC repair professional when your AC has a refrigerant issue. Here's how they can diagnose and fix a refrigerant leak.

The Presence Of Ice Suggests There Is A Leak

When refrigerant runs low, ice can form on the coils and lines. Ice often starts on the evaporator coil indoors and then spreads to the lines and coil in the condenser. Ice might also form because the evaporator coil is dirty, so it isn't a sure sign of a refrigerant leak. If you find ice on your AC, turn the AC off and run the fan only so the ice melts. The ice has to be gone before the AC repair technician can work on the unit.

A Pressure Test Can Verify If There Is A Leak

It's pretty easy to tell if the AC has a refrigerant leak. The AC repair technician can hook a pressure monitor up to the lines, and if the pressure is low, that means some refrigerant has leaked out. The difficult part can be finding where the leak is located. It's common for the leak to be in the evaporator coil indoors. However, the leak might be in the condenser coil or the refrigerant lines that connect the two.

A Leak Might Be Closed With Solder

Refrigerant lines are made of copper, so it might be possible to close the leak by soldering the line or coil. If the leak is caused by a loose connection, the problem might be solved by tightening the lines. However, refrigerant leaks aren't always easy to repair. If a leak is in the evaporator or condenser coil, the coil may need to be replaced. That's an expensive repair, so you'll need to discuss whether it's best to replace only the coil or if you should replace the entire air conditioner.

If your AC is fairly new, replacing the coil might be the best idea, and this job can be done by the AC repair technician after removing all of the refrigerant. When the new coil is in place, new refrigerant is added and the pressure adjusted so your AC cools your house properly again.

For more information on AC repair, contact a professional near you.