What to Do If Your AC Has a Freon Leak

Signs of a Freon leak can vary. Lack of coolant plays a big role in maintaining the temperature inside your home, so if you have a leak, the efficiency of your system is reduced. Some of the most common signs you have a refrigerant leak include:

• Rising utility bills: Without enough Freon, your air conditioner must work harder to maintain the correct temperature. You may find it constantly cycles, which causes an increase in energy consumption.
• Constant cycles: When your AC unit operates efficiently, it turns off when the interior temperature reaches your set thermostat level. It takes longer to cool your home when Freon levels are low, which means your system may not turn off as often.
• Standing water: Low Freon levels can cause your system to freeze. As a result, your drain pain will overflow as the ice melts, which can cause pooling water around your indoor unit.
• Frozen coils: In addition to standing water, frozen coils are a common sign of refrigerant leaks. Without enough Freon, the coils have a hard time absorbing heat, so the condensation on the coils freezes.
• Strange noises: Holes and cracks in your coils can cause hissing sounds as refrigerant circulates and escapes.

Freon leaks do more than prevent your HVAC system from running as it should. They can also cause other problems that aren't related to your home's cooling system.

• Health risks: Freon fumes can cause a variety of health problems, including nausea, dizziness, eye irritation, sore throat, and headaches. Long-term exposure to Freon leaks can even cause organ damage.
• Environmental impacts: Refrigerant leaks pose environmental hazards, such as depletion of the ozone layer and global warming.
• Fire hazards: While refrigerant is typically a non-flammable gas, it can ignite if exposed to an open flame.
• Damage to HVAC system: Low levels of Freon make your AC unit work much harder than normal. This can lead to overheating, damage to moving parts, corrosion of metal, and system failures.