The AC for your Cathedral City, CA home should operate quietly in the background while keeping your household comfortable. Normal sounds include a click at the start and end of a cooling cycle and a soft hum, whir, or a whoosh of air as the fan begins blowing it into your living spaces. However, a hissing sound from the AC’s refrigerant line isn’t normal. It means you have a significant problem on your hands that will require the attention of experienced service technicians.
Know the Signs of a Refrigerant Leak
The refrigerant in your air conditioner is under high pressure. If the refrigerant line cracks, becomes loose or gets damaged in some other way, you may hear a hissing sound. The hissing is the high-pressure gas escaping from the tiny opening. On the other hand, you might hear a bubbling sound coming from the line. A bubbling or gurgling sound usually indicates an issue with the system’s internal pressure. These sound could be accompanied by an odor of chloroform or ether.
Understand the AC Refrigerant Lines
Your AC has two refrigerant lines. The larger one is for the gas phase, and the smaller one is for the refrigerant’s liquid phase. Both lines are made of copper. Valves control the flow of refrigerant through the lines and into the AC coils. A leak may develop due to normal wear and tear, excessive vibration, formic acid from certain refrigerants, a damaged valve, or a loose connection.
Take Action as Soon as You Notice Unusual Sounds
If you hear a hissing sound from your AC refrigerant lines or any other strange noises for that matter, turn the unit off. Do not touch the lines. The chemical refrigerant could potentially cause injury or otherwise pose a health hazard in addition to harming the environment. Only experienced service technicians who are certified to repair refrigerant leaks should take on this type of repair.
To learn more about the signs of problems with your AC refrigerant lines and what different sounds mean, take a look at Vic’s Air Conditioning’s air conditioning repair services, or call us today for additional details.
