If your air conditioner isn’t cooling the way it used to, the issue might not be the thermostat or the age of your system, it could be a refrigerant leak. Unfortunately, this type of problem often goes undetected until it’s already driven up your energy bills or damaged your equipment. Refrigerant leaks reduce your system’s cooling power, strain your compressor, and eventually lead to higher repair costs or premature replacement. Many homeowners don’t realize that HVAC refrigerant isn’t supposed to run low over time. It’s part of a sealed loop. If your system is losing refrigerant, something’s wrong and it won’t fix itself.
At Valley Comfort Heating and Air, we help Sonoma County homeowners spot these problems early. With routine HVAC inspections and smart refrigerant leak detection methods, we can help you avoid costly surprises, stay comfortable in the heat, and protect your investment before summer hits its peak.
What Causes Refrigerant Leaks in Summer?
Summer heat puts your system under more pressure, and that’s usually when refrigerant leaks start to show. While poor installation or age-related wear can cause problems year-round, hot weather intensifies the demand on your air conditioner and makes weak points fail faster. Here’s what typically causes a refrigerant leak in a cooling system:
- Formicary corrosion in the evaporator coil: This happens when indoor air pollutants mix with condensation on copper coils, forming formic acid. Over time, the acid eats tiny pinholes into the tubing, releasing refrigerant gas.
- Vibrations from daily use: When refrigerant lines vibrate over time—especially if they rub against each other or nearby metal—they can wear down and form leaks.
- Factory defects or poor installation: Improper brazing or weak joints may go unnoticed during setup, but they will eventually give out under pressure.
- Outdoor damage: In some cases, physical impact from lawn equipment, weather, or animals can damage the condenser coil and cause a freon leak.
If your AC was installed more than 10 years ago or hasn’t been maintained in a while, now’s the time to schedule an HVAC inspection. A small issue today can turn into a major repair by the middle of summer.
Signs Your System Might Be Leaking
Refrigerant leaks don’t always start with a loud sound or obvious warning to tell you’re facing summer AC problems. Often, the first signs show up as subtle changes in how your air conditioner performs. If you know what to look for, you can catch the problem before it affects your comfort or wallet. Here are some of the most common low refrigerant symptoms you might notice:
- AC not cooling effectively: If the air blowing out of your vents isn’t as cold as it used to be, it could be caused by low refrigerant.
- Ice on the evaporator coil or refrigerant lines: A frozen coil is a very clear red flag that is caused by refrigerant levels dropping below safe operating pressure.
- Rising indoor humidity: Your system can’t remove moisture efficiently without enough refrigerant. That means you’ll notice more muggy air in your home, even when your AC is running.
- Water puddles near the unit: When ice on your evaporator coil melts, it can overflow the drain pan and pool on the floor.
- Hissing sounds: A leaking AC may produce a faint hissing or bubbling noise where the refrigerant is escaping from pinholes or cracks.
- Unexplained energy bill increases: If your system is running longer to reach the same temperature, that drop in efficiency could point to a freon leak.
Health and Environmental Concerns
Refrigerant leaks also carry health and environmental risks. While most modern HVAC refrigerants like R-410A are considered low-toxicity, direct exposure to concentrated gas in a confined space might cause dizziness, headaches, or nausea.
Even in low amounts, refrigerant should never be leaking into your home. It’s a chemical compound, and it doesn’t belong in your indoor air. Children, elderly family members, and pets are even more vulnerable to poor air quality.
Leaks also have a larger environmental impact. Some refrigerants are classified as greenhouse gases and contribute to global warming when they get released into the air. If your system uses an outdated refrigerant like R-22 (Freon), the environmental risk is even greater and it’s becoming harder and more expensive to replace.
Addressing refrigerant leaks quickly helps protect your home, your health, and the planet. That’s why we take every leak seriously and recommend fast, safe repairs when one is confirmed.
How Professionals Test for Leaks
When it comes to refrigerant leak detection, accuracy matters. Simply recharging your system without addressing the source won’t solve the problem and it just gives the refrigerant more time to escape. That’s why our technicians use multiple testing methods to confirm a leak before moving forward with repairs. Some of the ways we identify where your system is losing refrigerant include:
- Pressure testing: We start by checking the refrigerant pressure against manufacturer specifications. If the pressure is low, it’s usually a sign that there’s a leak somewhere in the system.
- Electronic detection: This method uses a handheld sensor to identify refrigerant gas in the air around coils, valves, and joints. It’s fast and helps us narrow down the source.
- Dye tests: We can add a safe UV dye to your refrigerant lines. When we view your system under a black light, the dye makes it easier to see exactly where the refrigerant is leaking from.
- Soap bubble test: This is a tried-and-true method. By applying a soapy solution to suspected leak points, any escaping gas produces visible bubbles at the point of the leak.
- Smart sensors: Some advanced systems include built-in refrigerant sensors that trigger alerts if levels drop unexpectedly.
Once we find the problem, we’ll walk you through your options so you can make an informed decision on next steps.
What to Do if a Leak Is Confirmed
If a refrigerant leak is confirmed during your HVAC inspection, it’s important to act right away. Ignoring the issue or just topping off the refrigerant will only lead to more problems later. We recommend:
- Repairing or replacing the leaking component: Whether it’s a coil, line, or valve, the faulty part needs to be sealed or swapped out to restore the system’s integrity.
- Recharging the refrigerant to factory levels: After the repair, we’ll refill your system to the correct pressure using the appropriate refrigerant type making sure it is filled to the right level to optimal efficiency.
- Running a post-repair test: We always double-check the system to confirm that the leak is fixed, and everything is running properly.
- Evaluating the overall condition of the system: If your unit is older or has multiple issues, we may recommend an upgrade instead of repeated repairs.
Cost of Ignoring the Problem vs. Proactive Service
Delaying refrigerant leak detection might seem like a way to save money, but it almost always costs more in the long run. Operating with low refrigerant makes your AC work harder, leading to overheating, short cycling, and eventual compressor failure. Replacing a damaged compressor is one of the most expensive services for AC repair in Santa Rosa. Even if the system keeps running, the energy efficiency loss alone can quietly add hundreds to your utility bills every season.
On the other hand, scheduling a routine HVAC inspection gives us a chance to spot small leaks before they get worse. Simple repairs are much more affordable when caught early, and proactive maintenance helps extend the life of your equipment. If you’re seeing signs of a leaking AC or have had to recharge your system more than once, don’t wait. Call us for a full refrigerant inspection. We’ll find out what’s going on and fix it right the first time.
Local Climate and Refrigerant Strain in Sonoma County
Sonoma County’s summer climate puts your cooling system through a lot. With inland heatwaves, foggy coastal mornings, and rapid temperature swings between day and night, your AC often has to work harder than you realize. That extra strain can expose weak spots in your refrigerant lines faster than in milder regions.
Homes closer to the coast may also experience higher humidity, which increases condensation on indoor coils. That moisture, combined with indoor air pollutants, can accelerate formicary corrosion and lead to pinhole leaks in copper tubing.
Inland areas like Santa Rosa experience sustained high temperatures, which keep your system running longer hours. That kind of continuous use can wear out seals and connections, especially if the unit hasn’t been maintained regularly.
Schedule a Refrigerant Inspection Before the Next Heat Wave
If your air conditioner has been running longer, cooling less, or making strange sounds, don’t wait for things to get worse. Schedule a refrigerant inspection with Valley Comfort Heating and Air today. We’ll check your system for leaks, review your refrigerant levels, and help you fix small issues before they become expensive emergencies. Let’s keep your home cool and your system running right.
