Definition
A refrigerant leak is an escape of refrigerant from an air conditioner or heat pump's sealed circuit, usually through corroded coils, worn joints or vibrating line connections. Because refrigerant is not used up, a system that is low has a leak. Symptoms include weak heating or cooling, longer run times, iced coils and hissing sounds.
Also called: Low refrigerant
Why it matters to you.
On a humid Central Kentucky summer day, a slow leak often first shows up as a house that feels clammy, longer run times or ice on the refrigerant lines; in a heat pump it can also mean more AUX heat in winter. Recharging without finding the leak only buys time, and on an older system a major leak weighs heavily in a repair-or-replace decision.
Practical guidance.
If you notice iced refrigerant lines, hissing or a sudden drop in performance, turn the system off at the thermostat and call a licensed technician. Ask them to locate and repair the leak rather than just add refrigerant; work on the sealed circuit requires EPA Section 608 certification.
About this definition
Written by the Feistritzer Heating & Air Conditioning team — family owned and operated in Danville since 1976, Kentucky HVAC license M02584. Definitions inform; a whole-system diagnosis in your home decides.