Within your air conditioner unit is an evaporator coil. It circulates refrigerant throughout the system, which helps to cool the air that moves throughout the rooms in your house. But if the coil leaks, your HVAC system won’t be able to cool your house effectively.
What causes leakage to the evaporator coil?
The coils should last for the life of the HVAC system, which is about 15-20 years for a high-quality system that is maintained properly. However, if the system is not maintained throughout the year, then you might need to replace the coil sooner.
The air conditioning unit uses refrigerant to absorb heat from the air inside your house. But when the refrigerant gets combined with volatile organic compounds which are found in adhesives, air fresheners, and cleaning products, they produce acids which can form tiny leaks in the coil. When the holes form, they can lead to the refrigerant to leak out slowly, which can damage the HVAC system along with the environment.
Unfortunately, the holes are so small that it’s often tough to detect them right by looking at the evaporator coil. This is especially difficult because the coil isn’t visible immediately while looking at the HVAC system.
Signs of a leaking evaporator coil:
In various cases, you would need a professional HVAC technician to diagnose an air conditioner evaporator coil leak, but you can still look for the signs mentioned below:
- Your home takes a long time to cool down
If there’s a leak, then a refrigerant will leak out slowly. Without enough refrigerants, the system will have to work harder to cool your house.
- The airflow feels weak
When the HVAC system turns on, it should blow cold air through the air vents instantly. But in case the airflow feels weak or lags when your system turns on, then it might be a sign of a refrigerant leak.
- Warm air comes out of the air vents
If the air coming from the vents feels warm, you might have a refrigerant leak on your hands.
How to fix the evaporator coil leak?
As the evaporator coil leaks and refrigerant go together, it is recommended to schedule an appointment with your trusted HVAC technician. Refrigerant exposure can be risky and should be checked only by a professional.
A technician will perform a comprehensive examination of the system and can diagnose a refrigerant leak. Keep in mind that some of the technicians might want to cut corners and get it fixed by adding more refrigerant or attempting to seal the holes. It is not recommended because the refrigerant will continue to leak and the money will be wasted. Although the new coil cost isn’t cheap, it can prove to be a better investment as it will allow your system to cool your house effectively.
How to prevent leakage?
While it is not recommended to repair a leaking evaporator coil yourself, there are some of the things that can be done to prevent future leaks:
- Invest in a whole purification system
- Avoid using the products that emit high Volatile Organic Compounds levels
- Let the fresh air come in
- Invest in an ultraviolet light
- Schedule maintenance regularly for your HVAC system
Erosion is one of the primary causes of wearing out the evaporator coil by weakening it over time. The weaker the coils are going to be, there are chances that your air conditioner will experience leakage. Contact the professionals if you are having issues with the coil.
