Freon Leaking in an American Standard Air Conditioner

How Central Air Conditioners Work

• A central air conditioning system is a closed loop that utilizes Freon to cool the air. The process involves several components. Starting in the compressor, located outside of the home, Freon gas is put under pressure, which turns it into a liquid. The result of this transformation is a rapid reduction in the chemical's temperature. The liquid is then pumped into the evaporator coil located inside the home. Warm air from the house is blown across the cold pipes of the evaporator, chilled then sent around the home. The Freon liquid absorbs the heat, turns back into a gas and returns to the compressor to start the process again.

Common Misconceptions

• The air conditioning process creates condensation, which is water removed from the air in the chilling process. The condensation occurs in the evaporator and is drained outside of the home, usually near the compressor unit. The condensate is nothing but water. However, when homeowners see the water around the base of their compressor, they often mistake it for a Freon leak. Condensation is not only normal; it is an indication that the system is operating effectively.

Coolant Leak Causes

• While the chemical coolant is designed to remain sealed for the life of the unit, it is expected that very small amounts of it will escape over the system's operational life. Leaks are usually man-made problems, such as hitting the condenser with a lawnmower, children playing on the unit or damage from pets. Inside the home, special care should be taken when putting nails in the wall that houses the Freon feed line, which supplies cold coolant from the compressor to the evaporator.

Detecting a Leak

• Homeowners can look for the source of the leak by noting any Freon pooled near the compressor or other locations along the exposed line. AC coolant is greasy to the touch but often hard to find as it evaporates rapidly. If the coolant can't be found, look for dry white residue, which may indicate evaporated coolant.

Professional Assistance

• A Freon leak is considered an environmental problem and can only be serviced by a professional. An HVAC technician will use a specialized sniffer device to root out the location/cause of the leak and determine a course of action. Usually, the first course of action will be to administer a viscous leak stoppage agent that will plug up most small leaks. This will slightly reduce your AC unit's effectiveness but is an inexpensive fix when compared with performing a major coolant pipe refitting.