What to Do if Air Conditioner Condenser Coil Leaks
The very first air conditioner was created to deal with humidity at a printing plant. Since then, most homes in North America have some sort of AC system at their disposal. With summer
rolling around, home cooling will be at the forefront of everyone’s minds. There have been a few summers where I did not have an AC at home, and I can say from personal experience that it is almost a necessity even with the shorter Canadian summers. As I experienced, a lot of different things can go wrong with a home air conditioning system. One of the most common problems people have with their AC systems is when their condenser coil starts leaking. This is the part of the air conditioner in which the heat is taken out of the refrigerant and then condensed into liquid form. With all the liquid generated in this piece, sometimes there are leaks that come out of the coil. Here is what to do if you are faced with an air condenser coil leaks.
Why Condenser Started Leaking?
There are many different reasons for a condenser coil to stop working so let’s first explore some of the common causes of an air conditioner condenser coil leak. Perhaps the most common cause of a condenser coil leaking is the fact that the condenser is probably packed with dust, dirt, and debris. The next cause could be VOCs, which is a term that stands for Volatile Organic Compounds. This could be a wide range of toxic gases which cannot only be harmful to your health but also to your air conditioner. VOCs can cause corrosion to the coil which causes it to leak and make a mess of your home and your health. Even trace amounts of fluoride in household water can cause the coil to become corroded over time.
How to Check If Air Conditioner Condenser Coil is Leaking?
There are a few different ways of checking if an air conditioner coil is leaking. The first and most simple way is to check the surrounding areas for any signs of moisture around the device. The next step would be to notice any signs of frost around the coil, this is a sure sign of the refrigerant leaking and can cost thousands if not taken seriously. One other sure sign to look out for would be when you notice that there is no hot air being released from the opposite end of the AC, if this happens you can be sure the condenser coil is not working.
The last thing that lets you know something might be wrong with the condenser would be loud or strange noises coming from the unit. The noises can relate to several different problems with the AC; however, coil damage is one of the most common reasons. If you go near your AC and hear any odd noises, perhaps it is a sign your condenser needs repair.
When your coil leaks there are several things that you can do to get the problem solved. Most of these solutions are best left to the technicians when your coil does start to leak. When you call an Ac tech, they often will perform solutions that are comparable to bandaging where they will patch up the holes.
Some technicians may simply add more refrigerant to the coil, but this is only a temporary solution to the problem as this will not stop the leaks from happening it will just delay the bigger issues and leaks. The next thing you can do is simply replace the coil outright, this is an awfully expensive solution, but it will stop all the problems and is a sure-fire way to prevent them from reoccurring.
How to Prevent AC Condenser Coil Leakage?
Before problems even start there are several preventative actions you can take to ensure that it does not get to the stage where repairs are necessary. The first thing would be to keep all aerosol cans and similar household products far away from your air conditioner.
As mentioned earlier, the use of VOCs severely impacts the longevity of your condenser coil. It is important that you do not use any VOC products near your ac on a regular basis. After getting your coils cleaned, you can also apply an anti-corrosive coating which will protect your system from condenser coil leaks. In addition, you can also rinse the outer portion of your ac every so often to ensure that no debris is entering the system. Winters can also be detrimental to air conditioners; you should put a covering over your system to protect it during the winter months.
Conclusion
There are a ton of different ways an air condenser coil leak can happen, but perhaps the most important thing is that there are also many solutions that can remedy these leaks. While it may be tempting to solve all these problems yourself, calling a professional is the best solution you can go for that ensures your safety and the longevity of your household appliances. Whether it’s for an air conditioner condenser coil leak or if you ever require any other professional HVAC repair, Smile HVAC is always there to help!
