{"id":788,"date":"2021-05-03T11:00:02","date_gmt":"2021-05-03T15:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.snellair.com\/blog\/?p=788"},"modified":"2025-05-30T13:30:23","modified_gmt":"2025-05-30T17:30:23","slug":"dangers-leaking-ac-refrigerant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.snellair.com\/blog\/air-conditioning-service\/dangers-leaking-ac-refrigerant\/","title":{"rendered":"The Dangers of Leaking AC Refrigerant"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"resiidential-ac-unit\"People who aren\u2019t in the HVAC industry often have misconceptions about how air conditioning systems work, specifically the role of refrigerant. Homeowners often imagine that refrigerant is a fuel for the air conditioner, something that will eventually run out and need to be refilled.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Refrigerant is <\/span>not<\/span><\/i> a fuel source. Air conditioning systems run on one type of energy: electricity. A refrigerant is a <\/span>heat transfer medium<\/span><\/i>. It\u2019s what allows an air conditioner to pump heat from a house to the outside. The refrigerant works, in some ways, like blood in the human body: a pump circulates it to allow the system to run. But if the human body loses blood, it creates more. If an air conditioning system loses refrigerant, it can\u2019t create more and will be in serious danger until it receives professional <\/span>AC repair in Lawrenceville, GA<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Why Leaking Refrigerant Is a Serious AC Issue<\/b><\/h2>\n

Now that we\u2019ve explained that refrigerant isn\u2019t an energy source but used for heat transfer, we can better explain why leaks are big trouble. As refrigerant moves through the AC, it shifts between a liquid and a gas. Changing from one phase to the other is how the refrigerant absorbs heat from indoors (evaporation) and releases heat outdoors (condensation). The refrigerant doesn\u2019t dissipate during this cycle, so the amount of refrigerant in the air conditioner\u2014referred to as the AC\u2019s <\/span>charge<\/span><\/i>\u2014won\u2019t change during the system\u2019s service life\u2026\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2026unless there are leaks. Unfortunately, leaks are a common issue with air conditioners. The reaction between the copper refrigerant lines and chemicals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air can lead to corrosion, often on an air conditioner that\u2019s about five years old. The corrosion patches weaken the copper lines enough to allow the high-pressure refrigerant gas to escape and begin lowering the AC\u2019s charge.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Loss of refrigerant will affect how well an air conditioner can cool a home, but this isn\u2019t the only problem. Because the AC is designed for a specific charge, the entire system will work less efficiently when the charge drops and refrigerant pressure changes. The part that is in the most jeopardy is the compressor, the literal heart of the system. Loss of refrigerant puts the compressor in danger of burning out. A failed compressor is an expensive replacement, and often it\u2019s more cost-effective to replace the entire AC instead.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Key Signs Your AC Is Leaking Refrigerant<\/b><\/h2>\n

Catching leaks early gives you a chance to call our professional repair technicians. We can locate the leaks, seal them, and then restore the correct refrigerant charge. There are several warnings of refrigerant leaks to watch for:<\/span><\/p>\n