Heat pumps are regarded as some of the most energy-efficient HVAC systems today. With proper maintenance and use, they can be up to three to four times more efficient than other home comfort units. But their energy efficiency can easily diminish if they are not given the proper care.
Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning is your preferred HVAC company in Columbia Heights MN. We are experts at keeping heat pumps in tip-top shape, ensuring your unit stays as energy-efficient as possible.
In this article, we will discuss the most common signs of heat pump refrigerant leaks.
Overview
Your heat pump uses a refrigerant to move heat from one place to another. A refrigerant has properties enabling it to change at relatively low temperatures. Your heat pump compresses the refrigerant, making it hot. Then, the hot gas moves through the coils and turns into a liquid. At that point, it absorbs the heat from the inside air and pushes it outside your home. The process is easily reversible: it can control heated air from the outside and move it inside.
But how do you know your heat pump is leaking refrigerant? Here are some signs telling you so:
It fails to reach your desired temperature.
Again, the refrigerant is responsible for absorbing heat from inside your home and moving it outside. If your heat pump doesn’t have the right level of refrigerant, it will take much longer for your home to cool down since there is not enough refrigerant to take away the heat.
It short-cycles.
Short cycling occurs when your heat pump automatically turns itself off before completing its full heating (or cooling) cycle. What this means is that your unit constantly runs in its start-up stage, rather than at its optimal efficiency level.
When the system short cycles, you should check its refrigerant system. A leaking refrigerant can cause your equipment to work inconsistently, allowing your system to turn itself on and off.
Your heat pump should follow a specific cycle to provide heat to your home. The irregular operation, however, isn’t a part of the process. So when you notice your heat pump is working in an unusual pattern, you should contact your local HVAC company to look into the issue.
Its coils are frozen.
When there is not enough refrigerant in the heat pump, the coils will not effectively absorb the heat. This will result in condensation on the coils to freeze. There are times when the frozen condensation will start to melt and drip on the floor.
You might think about scraping the ice might remove the build-up, but doing so isn’t a long-term solution. You might have to call your trusted HVAC professional to check the heat pumps’ refrigerant level and repair or replace them.
Do not neglect frozen evaporator coils because doing so could lead to a complete system failure and potentially cost you a considerable amount of money on repair or replacement.
It becomes less efficient
Your heat pump should be energy-efficient, but when it has a refrigerant leak, that’s no longer the case. This issue can put extra stress on the system’s parts, especially the compressor. Too much pressure on the compressor can affect your heat pump’s overall performance, and with added strain, your unit can consume more energy. So, if you notice a significant increase in your energy bill, your heat pump’s refrigerant might be leaking.
It produces a loud hissing sound.
Your heat pump should work silently. But if there are cracks or holes in your coils, the refrigerant will escape through these openings. A clear indication that your AC leaks refrigerant is that it produces a hissing sound. This sound will be noticeably loud inside your home where the indoor unit is placed. In some cases, the hissing can also be heard near your outdoor unit.
Need Help? Call Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning
If your heat pump works with insufficient refrigerant, it causes inconvenience and added expenses. Neglecting the issue can even result in premature system failure or replacement. For this reason, you should give us a call as soon as you suspect your heat pump isn’t working as it should. As your friendly Blaine heating and air conditioning company, we’d love to be the ones to restore the energy efficiency of your unit and the comfort in your home.