Air Conditioner Gas Leaks

Aircon Problem: Gas Leaks

Is your AC system not cooling your space like it used to? If this is the case then having your unit checked should be done right away. We at Oasis Aircon Servicing think that there are mainly two parts that should be checked for functionality. The two compartments in the system that is responsible for the cooling process is the compressor and coolant. The two parts works hand in hand in bringing out the cool air from the vent of the unit. Anything that happens with these parts will greatly affect the running of the equipment. The root cause should first be identified to create a more precise way of taking action.

The refrigerant inside the AC unit works in two different states: liquid and gas. This works the same was as what refrigerant is in liquid state, the gas helps in the cooling process of the AC system. It should be carefully identified between which of the state is leaking as this would determine which part of the system should be fixed. Once it has already been determined, refilling the coolant will not solve the problem, and would incur more expenses. It should be noted that the leak where the gas is coming from should be patched to avoid further system leaking, and so topping up gas to your unit can be done properly.

Checking for Signs of a Aircon Gas Leak

• Smell if there are gas fumes
  Gas created from the AC unit basically does not exhibit any smell therefore diagnosing the leak will be hard to do when you can’t inspect the inside unit. If you are able to smell an odor coming from the cooling system, then opening your window should be necessary and keeping your electronics turned off should be done. The gas pipe should also be checked if there are leaks found. If no problem and fumes are observed, and the cooling power is weakening, then checking for gas leak should be carefully investigated.
• Conduct system checks
  Certain operational modes can be done to further single out gas leak to determine the problem. This can be done by running the air conditioner in full Turbo mode. This should be maintained for at least 3 to 5 minutes to assess the system’s continuous function. This system check is to determine that cool wind is coming out of the system at full speed and operation or not.
• Detect Gas leaks using liquid tracer
  Liquid tracers are prominent in all of Singapore and can be easily found. This material can be used to trace gas leaks in your air cooling system. By using this, one can easily test if there are residues of the refrigerant gas inside the pipe. You can use similar tracing tools found in hardware stores and can still have a fantastic result in inspecting gas leaks.
  
  More signs of gas leaking here.

Solutions to a Aircon Gas Leak

• Check the valves
  Gas may leak from the different parts of the system and that is why it is very important to know where it is to be able to properly remedy the problem. First is to check the valve if it is properly attached and it should also be checked for cleanliness. This could be a problem that is being overlooked and if the problem persists then the valve needs to be replaced. This can be done by simply removing the valves and replacing them with brand new ones.
• Inspect the Tubing
  Another area to take notice from the gas leaking is the tubing found in the AC unit. If there are presence of holes then proper soldering of the line is needed to be done. This process will require the use of a high temperature torch that will help repair the source of leak. The first thing to do is visually locate the crack that is causing the problem and assess the size of the cracks. If the crack is visibly small then soldering the line should be necessary. If the size of the hole is large, it is advised to cut the area of the line and replace it with a new portion of line to be soldered in place.
• Refill Coolant
  It is important to understand that replacing the coolant without sealing the areas with cracks will only be an ongoing cycle of repair. Before filling in the coolant, make sure that the holes and cracks from the lines are being repaired to avoid gas leaking. After it is being repaired, the unit should be recharged with a new coolant to replenish it from the leak that escaped the system. Exact amount of the coolant should be placed as this would affect the cooling performance of the AC unit.

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