Heating and AC Services You Can Trust In Maryland

Is your air conditioning unit leaking refrigerant? Give Mission Comfort a call at 301-453-2420 to book an appointment for a refrigerant leak repair.

Most of us look forward to summer for the longer days, family vacations, and entertaining outdoors. However, the intense summer heat can be overwhelming, and without a functioning AC unit, Maryland summers can be uncomfortable. If your Heating and Cooling system isn’t cooling off your home like it usually does, the culprit may be a refrigerant leak.

Refrigerant leaks are one of the most common Heating and Air Conditioning problems. Here at Mission Comfort, our technicians have years of experience in all kinds of refrigerant leak repairs.

Tell-Tale Signs of a Refrigerant Leak

Refrigerant is a fluid that absorbs heat from the environment and converts it into cool air as it runs through the compressor. As a homeowner, it’s essential to know the signs of a refrigerant leak in your Heating and Air Conditioning system so that you can quickly call for repairs.

Check out these top signs that may signal that you need a refrigerant leak repair:

Decreased Cooling Power

Refrigerant is essential to your air conditioning system’s cooling process. This chemical compound absorbs the hot air inside your home and releases it outside through the vents. Therefore, when the refrigerant levels are running low or have been completely depleted, it will take longer for your Heating and Air Conditioning system to cool down your home.

Hot Air Blowing from The Vents

Hot or lukewarm air blowing from the vents is a surefire sign that your Heating and AC unit is leaking refrigerant. When this happens, you’ll also notice that the Heating and AC isn’t able to cool off your home adequately.

Persistent Hissing Noises

Persistent hissing noises coming from the outdoor condenser or the indoor air handler is another common sign of a refrigerant leak. These sounds result from holes or cracks in the coils that circulate the refrigerant through the unit.

Frozen Evaporator Coils

The evaporator coil is located near the air handler, where the blower fan resides on most Heating and Air Conditioning units. The refrigerant absorbs the heat from the environment inside the evaporator coils. When there is a refrigerant leak, the heat absorption process doesn’t take place, which causes the evaporator coils to freeze.

Dangers of a Refrigerant Leak

Over time, the loss of refrigerant makes it impossible for your Heating and Air Conditioning system to cool your home and maintain a comfortable temperature. When left unchecked, you’ll need to recharge the AC continuously. In some cases, you may need to replace the unit, which can be expensive.

Another major downside of refrigerant leaks is that they can significantly increase energy bills. Low refrigerant levels result in your Heating and Cooling system working harder and using more energy to cool your home.

The EPA mandated that Heating and Air Conditioning companies stop manufacturing R22 (known commonly by the brand name Freon), which prompted Heating and Air Conditioning companies to switch to R-410a, an eco-friendly option. If your unit uses Freon refrigerant, call for repairs as soon as possible. The chemicals in this compound can be especially hazardous to the environment and your family.

Freon Refrigerant: R22 Repair Cost

The severity of refrigerant leaks varies. R22 repair costs are higher than other refrigerant types. In fact, R22 costs six times more per pound than R-410a. R22 refrigerant, also commonly referred to as Freon, was used in air conditioning units and Heating and Air Conditioning heat pumps manufactured before 2010. An R22 refrigerant repair cost can be more expensive than any other type of refrigerant leak because this type of freon is scarce.

Why Is My Heating and Air Conditoning Unit Leaking Refrigerant?

Most homeowners want to know why exactly their Heating and AC unit is leaking refrigerant. Freon leaks and refrigerant leaks can occur due to:

Normal Wear and Tear

Like any other appliance in your home, your AC unit or Heating system wears out over time. The seals and valves eventually start to rust and become corroded, which causes the refrigerant to start to leak.

Formic Acid

Formic is a natural acid that starts to develop on coils and erodes copper tubing inside your unit. This powerful acid can create pinhole leaks, and these leaks eventually cause more significant refrigerant leaks.

Our skilled technicians will perform a thorough inspection of your Heating and Cooling unit to determine the exact reason why it’s leaking refrigerant. Understanding how the leak occurred can help us make sure that it doesn’t happen again.

Let Our Professionals Handle Your Freon Leak Repair

Need a reliable professional for a refrigerant leak repair? You came to the right place! The service center at Mission Comfort specializes in all types of refrigerant leaks, and our crew has experience working with a wide range of air conditioning systems. We’ll make sure you stay cool all summer.

Contact us today at 301-453-2420 to schedule an appointment.