You certainly don’t want your AC to stop working. Much less in the middle of the summer when the temperatures are at their highest. That is why it is important to inspect it periodically and maintain it regularly. This way, you may not only make the unit last longer, but you can avoid unpleasant surprises and costly repairs. However, despite your best intentions, you may find a leak in your AC coil. What can you do about it?
Page Contents
How does an evaporator coil work?
An evaporator coil is an important component of your AC unit because it absorbs the heat from the air inside the home. You can find it either attached to the furnace or on the inside of the air handler. It works with a condenser coil to finish the heat exchange process and produce cool air. It is important to maintain the system working efficiently, and it should be kept clean and well-maintained for it to perform correctly. When the coil is dirty, it can be responsible for increasing the energy that your AC uses by up to 30 percent. It can also cause the entire system to run poorly, not giving you the cooling air you expect. Besides being dirty, another problem you may have with your evaporator coil is finding that it is leaking.
Why would an evaporator coil start to leak?
The main reason for a leak would be a chemical reaction between the copper they are made from, high levels of humidity, and volatile organic compounds. When they combine, they create formic acid, and this corrodes the copper.
Other reasons for a leak include mold and other films that grow on the coil, slowly eroding the integrity of the copper and leading to a leak.
How can you know that the coil has developed a leak?
Besides the poor performance of your AC unit, you may also realize you have a leak when:
- There is no cold air blowing at all, or the air that is blowing is weak.
- A strange odor emanates from the AC whenever it is running.
- The AC compressor in your unit will not engage.
- The temperatures that you get from your AC will fluctuate and be inconsistent.
Can the leak in the evaporator coil be fixed?
Unfortunately, there is no way to repair these leaks. This is mostly because evaporator coils are large components that are not only in dark areas, but they are made up of curves, dips, crevices, and hard-to-see and reach areas. The best way to describe trying to find a leak is like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. This is the main reason why coils need to be replaced when they develop a leak.
Call a Reputable AC Repair Company
Being exposed to refrigerants can be risky for you and your loved ones. This is an issue that can only be addressed by a professional technician trained to perform a complete examination of the AC system and diagnose a leak in your evaporator coil. If you know or suspect that your AC coil has developed a leak, call an AC repair company. Besides investing in a new evaporator coil, they will recommend you schedule regular maintenance on your AC system.
