If you’re reading this, you probably have experienced the “hissing” or “bubbling” noise of an air conditioner. Most homeowners think that this is just a standard noise of their AC unit, like the revving of a car engine. However, take it from us, this couldn’t be further from the truth. If you’ve gotten this far, you’re smart enough to know that this should be checked out by a professional.
Let’s not just stop there. Why does this noise signal bad news for your air conditioner? What information could you know as a homeowner that could potentially save you money in the future on AC repairs? Vigilance requires knowledge. If you read more, we’ll get into exactly what this specific set of noises could mean for your air conditioner, as well as the risk of not scheduling air conditioning repair in Woodstock, GA.
“Hissing” and “Bubbling”
Most often the case, hissing, and bubbling noises can be attributed to a refrigerant leak. These leaks can be hard to detect and difficult to diagnose unless you’re a trained technician, particularly because chemical refrigerant can leak as a gas or liquid. This should be distinct and different from a “dripping” sound since that is the condensate water that forms along with the evaporator coil.
What’s Wrong with Leaking Refrigerant?
It depends on the type of refrigerant and how old your air conditioner system is. The difference could mean a lot for the environment and your wallet.
R-22: Most air conditioners over 10 years old use a refrigerant called R-22. Also known as Chlorodifluoromethane (that’s a mouthful), it’s a powerful greenhouse gas that when released into the atmosphere can be 1,810 times as powerful as carbon dioxide. This contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer. So, it’s being phased out, which means you could be paying exorbitant prices for the remainder of this refrigerant if there’s a leak in your system. Not only that- but having this gas leak into the environment is quite harmful in general.
R-410A: R-410A, the younger and more environmentally friendly sibling of R-22, is a blend of several chemical refrigerants. This blend does not contribute to ozone depletion, and it has a much lower impact on global warming than the discontinued R-22. Most air conditioners today run with R-410A.
In Plain English
What does this scientific mumbo-jumbo mean to you, the homeowner? Well, if your system is “hissing” or “bubbling,” and your air conditioner is getting old, you might want to upgrade to a newer system in order to avoid paying high costs for an HVAC that uses more harmful refrigerant. Experiencing these sounds with an old system almost guarantees that you’ll be having a difficult conversation with a technician about how expensive this refrigerant will cost in your upcoming repairs.
It’s never a bad idea to schedule air conditioning repairs for your system if you’re experiencing these noises, as well as any other noises you might hear. These issues can be delicate and require trained hands to diagnose and fix.
Contact us at Premier Indoor Comfort Systems LLC for your AC repair needs.