When it comes to evaporator coils, deciding whether it’s better to replace or repair the equipment is relatively easy. More often than not, your technician will tell you that the cost of replacing is simply lower than repair. Let’s talk about a situation when you would replace the coil and why.
Reasons to Replace the Coil
Typically, the reason for replacing any HVAC system evaporator coil is simple: the coil is leaking. An evaporator coil leak means that the refrigerant inside, which is never supposed to come back out, is being released into the atmosphere. This is bad for both your AC system and the Ozone layer. Repairing an evaporator coil that is leaking freon can sometimes be easy if the leak is accessible, but it’s often not worth the time, effort and cost of trying to repair the leak. In this case, you would replace the coil rather than repair it.
Signs of a Leak
Leaking freon is a serious problem that you should have fixed immediately. By learning the symptoms of a leaking evaporator coil, you can respond quickly and fix the problem before more damage has happened. Watch out for these signs that your air conditioner’s evaporator coil is leaking refrigerant:
- Inadequate cooling
- Unusually high energy bills
- Long cooling cycles (because the system is working harder).
- Ice on the coil
- Bubbling or hissing sounds near the coil
- Indoor air that’s more humid than usual
How to Detect Refrigerant Leaks
If you suspect a refrigerant leak in your AC system, call a professional to assess the problem. The technician will detect the leak and tell you if it’s too big to repair. Below is a quick demo of a field piece used to detect the presence of refrigerant in the air. The tool works like a metal detector would, but in this case, it detects freon.
The evaporator coil in the video had very tight spacing, so we opted to purchase an Aspen slab coil, which has a reputation for efficiency and reliability, to replace the leaking coil.
If you suspect a freon leak in your system, contact Mission AC today and begin a service request.
