As temperatures begin to drop in Salem, Oregon, your HVAC system will likely be receiving significant use once the cold snap hits. That’s why ensuring it’s working at peak performance levels is vital. There’s nothing worse than having your HVAC break down in the height of winter, so enlisting the help of an HVAC repair team to provide you with seasonal maintenance is essential.
As one of today’s leading HVAC contractors in Salem and Keizer, Oregon, Melton’s Heating & Air Conditioning has collected some tips to solve one of the most common HVAC issues, a refrigerant leak.
What are the Risks of an HVAC Coolant Leak?
When you have a coolant leak, your HVAC system will continue running but cease cooling your home, meaning it’s a massive drain on energy. One of the reasons why it’s so essential to repair a leak ASAP is because, in addition to impacting your comfort, it can also be fatal if inhaled and harm the environment.
How to Detect Leaks
Although one of the most common and easily identified areas of refrigerant leaks is in your HVAC’s evaporator coils, they also occur elsewhere. Unfortunately, even with proper maintenance, your HVAC system can still fall victim to leaks.
Here are a few tips to help you identify leaks throughout your system:
- Using Ultraviolet (UV) Dye: Special UV light can help you identify leaks. An expert will add some UV reactive dye to the refrigerant of your HVAC system, then run the light over your HVAC system to see if any of the dye appears on its exterior.
- Soap Bubbles: Applying soapy water to suspected leak areas is another way to determine when you may have a refrigerant leak on your hands. The soapy water will bubble up and help you identify any pinhole leaks.
- Electronic Leak Detectors: For those who want to detect a coolant leak without a shadow of a doubt, using an electronic leak detector that’s been well-calibrated will deliver the highest degree of accuracy.
