Older air conditioners will contain a refrigerant called R22. This refrigerant is classified as a chlorofluorocarbon which is dangerous to humans and the atmosphere. Refrigerant is known to displace the air and can cause serious illness or worse if you do not leave the contaminated area and reach fresh air. This is why refrigerant leaks in basements and crawlspaces are so dangerous. Contact a heating and air professional if you suspect a leak and leave the space immediately.

• R22 is harmful to the ozone layer. The chlorine in the refrigerant will eat the ozone molecules. This is why we now use a much safer refrigerant called R410A.
• Low levels of refrigerant can cause detrimental harm to your air conditioner. When the refrigerant gets low, it will cause the main component of your outdoor unit to overheat, which could potentially cause it to fail.
• When your refrigerant is low, your unit is not working correctly. If your air conditioner is not working as it should, then that means that it is costing you far more money to run than it should.

One of the easiest ways to tell that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak is that it is not cooling your home down. Although this is not always the cause of your home being warm, it definitely can be the culprit. But what are some more tangible ways to tell your refrigerant is leaking out of your system?

• If you hear a hissing noise, you begin to notice bubbles around your air conditioner unit or handler.
• The evaporator coil may begin to develop ice building upon it. This is one of the most common and most distinguishable ways people can tell their unit is low on refrigerant.
• One of the main jobs of an air conditioner is to pull the humidity out of the air. If your unit is low on refrigerant, it cannot remove the proper amount of refrigerant out of the air, and therefore your home will begin to feel humid.
• Your energy bills will begin to climb because the unit will not be working as well and will require it to work longer and harder, raising your utility bills.

Multiple different things can cause refrigerant leaks. Refrigerant is under very high pressure, so the smallest of holes has the potential to become a severe leak once the refrigerant becomes more pressurized.

Poor installation: If the brazed joints were not appropriately sealed, then a tiny leak could be present, which is now presenting itself. The hole could have been filled when the installer left, but the vibration from the unit caused the piece of solder to work itself loose and reveal a pinhole for the refrigerant to leak out of.

From the factory: This is very rare, but it can happen when there is a defect in the product that is causing a leak from the factory.

Weakened joints: An air conditioner is going to shake. This can put pressure on certain joints over time, causing them to grow weak and possibly crack.

Wear and tear: If the supply house or the installers were too rough with the equipment, or if something happens to it after it has been installed, these can cause leaks.

Corrosion: This is especially bad around the indoor evaporator coil because it is exposed to moisture for the vast majority of its life. And it can also happen to the outdoor coil if it is exposed to things such as dog pee. Animal pee on condenser coils is highly corrosive and will begin to deteriorate the coil.