Freon Leak? 3 Checks for an Air Conditioner

By: Brian Schutt  |  August 20, 2023

Up to date on 8/17/2023

On January 1, 2020 Freon, or R-22 refrigerant, was banned from being manufactured by The Environmental Safety Company (EPA) as a result of it broken the ozone layer. R-22 was utilized in almost all cooling units on the time of the ban, so it was eradicated with a step-by-step phase-out.

An air conditioner freon leak is no laughing matter. Refrigerants are a key element of to any cooling system. With out it, your air con system can’t produce the cool air that we Hoosiers so desperately depend on 12 months spherical. Learn on to see tips on how to test for freon leak in dwelling AC.

Why a Freon Leak is Harmful

Not solely can a refrigerant leak make your house much less comfy and your power prices increased, however publicity to refrigerant may be harmful. Publicity to refrigerant is harmful and may result in refrigerant poisoning if the leak is critical.

What to Do When Your Air Conditioner has Refrigerant Leaks

Your growing old air conditioner has frozen up, and your HVAC technician simply identified a refrigerant leak within the system. Now what?

When this case arises for our Homesense purchasers, we don’t advocate that extra costly refrigerant be dumped right into a system with recognized leaks, though they do usually ask us so as to add one pound of freon to assist state of affairs.

As a substitute, we extremely encourage a leak check be carried out to doubtlessly repair the leak earlier than including any extra refrigerant to the system.

The Sorts of Freon Leak Checks for an Air Conditioner

1. Digital Leak Detector Take a look at

Most HVAC service technicians hold an digital leak detector or sniffer of their toolkits. Because the title suggests, the HVAC tech runs this device alongside the refrigeration elements to detect any R22 or R410a exterior of the system. Most HVAC technicians will begin a leak check by utilizing this machine, as it may be more economical to find a leak.

The limitation to an digital leak detector check is that it could solely scan the elements it could contact. With an evaporator coil leak, for instance, it may be fairly troublesome to place the digital leak detector all over the place a possible leak is perhaps.

So whereas this may be probably the most price efficient leak check, additionally it is probably the most vulnerable to inaccuracy.

2. Nitrogen Leak Detector Take a look at and Bubble Take a look at

An AC leak check with nitrogen—the popular check by Homesense technicians—provides a better diploma of readability to leak detection, although for barely extra price.

With this nitrogen leak check process, the HVAC technician first removes any remaining freon or Puron and pumps compressed nitrogen into the refrigeration system. The leaks turn out to be audible as a result of the nitrogen is held at the next stress than the refrigerant can function beneath regular situations. Think about if you pump air into your bicycle tire, and you may hear the air popping out. It’s the identical idea right here.

Along with listening for audible indicators of a leak, HVAC technicians can even be watching the gauges to see if stress adjustments. In a system with out leaks, stress will stay fixed. A system with a leak will present fluctuations.

Additionally, the technician will many instances take the extra step of “effervescent” the system. The technician will combine up cleaning soap bubbles, run it alongside elements of the refrigeration system, and search for air bubbles.

3. Dye Testing for a Freon Leak

A dye check for freon or Puron leaks can be utilized. Right here, an HVAC technician provides ultraviolet dye to the system, in search of each fixed and intermittent leaks. The UV dye mixes with lubricants throughout the system and finds its approach to even the smallest leaks. The technician makes use of a blue/black mild to see the dye because it leaks out.

It’s necessary to notice that not all dyes are really useful by producers and may have destructive penalties on the air con system if the dye is just not supported.

In case you assume you’ll have a freon leak and are nonetheless uncertain, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We all know tips on how to detect freon leak and might help!

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