There’s nothing quite as alarming as noticing the temperature progressively increase when you’re indoors in the summertime. If you feel like the temperature isn’t quite right and your air conditioner isn’t performing up to par, it’s possible that you have a refrigerant leak in your HVAC system.
When it comes to refrigerant in an air conditioning unit, there should always be a consistent amount of refrigerant. It never declines simply out of use, as oil does in an automobile. The amount should always stay the same. For that reason, a reduction in refrigerant can be a big problem for an HVAC unit.
Here are some of the possible symptoms of a refrigerant leak in an HVAC unit.
Increase in Temperature
This is the most apparent sign that there is an issue with refrigerant. The purpose of refrigerant is to absorb heat and remove it out of the building. If there is a reduction of refrigerant, this process breaks down and you will notice a temperature increase. If you find the temperature in the building registering higher in temperature than the unit is set for, there may be a problem.
Read More: What is the Lifespan of a Commercial Air Conditioner?
Increased Electric Bills
A refrigerant leak can cause an HVAC unit to have to overwork, which will mean an increase in your electric bills. The unit must operate longer to try and maintain a constant temperature and uses much more energy as it tries to compensate for the lack of refrigerant. If you have noticed that your electric bills have jumped up, then this could be an indicator of a leak.
Hissing/Gurgling Noises
Refrigerant loss is generally because cracks or small holes have developed in the copper tubing of coils the refrigerant is circulating through. If you have noticed hissing sounds or oil on any of the copper lines, this is an indicator that there is a refrigerant leak. A refrigerant leak is serious and by law must be repaired as soon as possible, to protect the environment.
Warm Air from Vents
If you notice an increase in the temperature in the office or building, go to one of the vents and feel the temperature of the air being pumped out. If it is warmer then that certainly indicates that there’s an issue, likely with the refrigerant level.
What Action Should I Take?
It should be noted that a lot of these symptoms can be caused by other deficiencies in your commercial HVAC system. That being said, if you have noticed any or all of these symptoms, you need to call a qualified commercial HVAC company to come and look at your system. It can be very costly to let this kind of problem progress, not to mention the discomfort felt by the employees and possibly customers in your facility.
Refrigerant leaks and issues like that are generally eliminated with a consistent maintenance program from a certified commercial HVAC company like Springbank Mechanical.
Read More: The Benefits of Commercial HVAC Maintenance
Contact Springbank Mechanical today to discuss the health and proper maintenance of your commercial HVAC system. We are here to help.
Gregg Little is Co-owner of Springbank Mechanical Systems. He can be reached at 905-569-8990 or gregg@springbank.com.