When your AC starts acting up during the hottest part of the summer in Copperas Cove, it can quickly disrupt your comfort at home. What many homeowners don’t realize is that some cooling issues start with a refrigerant leak. Refrigerant is what helps your AC pull heat out of the air. When it’s low, your system has to work harder and longer to cool your space. Over time, this can wear down components and lead to bigger repairs.
Catching a refrigerant leak early helps avoid additional damage and keeps cooling consistent inside your home. There are a few warning signs that signal something may be wrong, but they’re not always obvious right away. Paying attention to changes in performance and unusual behavior from your AC can help you spot problems before they get worse.
Decreased Cooling Efficiency
One of the first things you might notice with a refrigerant leak is that your air conditioner isn’t keeping your home as cool as it used to. Even though the system is running, the air coming out of the vents may not feel as cold. This can be an early signal that the refrigerant is low and the unit isn’t removing heat as effectively as it should.
It’s easy to overlook at first, especially if temperatures in Copperas Cove are rising and you assume the unit just has to work harder. But if you keep lowering your thermostat and still feel warm in certain rooms, it’s time to pay attention.
Look out for these signs:
1. Longer cooling cycles than usual
2. Cooler rooms not reaching the set temperature
3. A constant feeling of warm spots throughout the house
4. AC system working harder during midday heat
When refrigerant levels drop, the system can’t maintain the desired temperature even if the airflow seems normal. If you’re adjusting the thermostat regularly and your home still feels uncomfortable, the AC might be low on refrigerant due to a leak. At this stage, it’s a good idea to have one of our technicians take a look and assess whether repair is needed to restore performance.
Hissing Or Bubbling Noises
Strange sounds coming from your AC are never a good sign. In the case of a refrigerant leak, homeowners sometimes hear a faint hissing or bubbling noise. These sounds aren’t always constant, but they tend to happen when the system is running and trying to push refrigerant through small cracks or holes in the lines.
Hissing usually means the refrigerant is escaping as a gas. Bubbling may happen when the refrigerant is leaking as a liquid, especially if there’s moisture or condensation near the leak. These noises can come from areas around the indoor evaporator coil or the lines connecting the outdoor and indoor components.
To give an example, one Copperas Cove homeowner thought the hissing sound near their outdoor unit was a snake hiding in the bushes. Turned out it was refrigerant slowly leaking out of a cracked line.
If you hear either of these noises, don’t ignore them. Pinpointing the source of the sound can be tough without the right tools. Our professionals are trained to find and fix leaks safely. Leaving a leak untreated could result in more damage and higher repair costs in the long run.
Higher Energy Bills
If you’ve opened a recent utility bill and wondered why it’s higher than usual, your AC might be to blame. A refrigerant leak reduces the system’s ability to cool, so it runs longer and more often. This puts extra strain on the components and increases energy usage without delivering better performance.
In Copperas Cove, where summers can get intense, homeowners often chalk up the spike in costs to hotter days. But if your AC has always handled the heat before and now struggles, it’s worth considering whether there’s a deeper issue. Leaking refrigerant can slowly disrupt your system’s overall efficiency, which you’ll feel when you try to cool your home and see when your bill arrives.
A properly charged AC system will cycle on and off throughout the day. However, when refrigerant is low, the unit may stay on for longer periods in an attempt to reach the set temperature. This never-ending cycle not only damages parts over time but also wastes money. If your power bill keeps going up even though your home doesn’t feel any cooler, that’s a red flag.
Our technicians can check refrigerant levels, inspect for leaks, and restore the system to normal operation. Addressing it early can help lower your bills and extend your system’s life.
Frozen Evaporator Coils
Another signal that refrigerant might be leaking is when evaporator coils freeze up. These coils need warm air to pass over them to function properly. When the refrigerant level gets too low, the temperature inside the coils drops and moisture in the air begins to freeze on them. Over time, the frost can block airflow and make the issue worse.
Some signs of frozen coils include:
1. Ice build-up on the indoor unit or around the coils
2. Weak airflow from your vents
3. Water pooling around the air handler
4. AC running but not cooling the space
Frozen coils can eventually lead to the system shutting down altogether. Most homeowners in Copperas Cove first notice a problem when they see ice on the lines or feel warm air blowing from their vents even though the AC has been on for hours.
Letting the coils thaw might get the air flowing again temporarily, but the real solution comes from identifying and fixing the cause, often a refrigerant leak. Our professionals have the tools to test for low refrigerant and repair the leak so your system doesn’t keep cycling through the same problems.
Warm Air Or Poor Airflow
If your AC is on but the air coming out feels warm or weaker than usual, a refrigerant issue could be to blame. When refrigerant is leaking, the evaporator coil can’t remove enough heat from the air before blowing it back into your home. You might feel air coming from the vents, but it won’t be cool enough to make a difference indoors.
This problem can show up in different ways around the house. You may notice one room feels humid and warm while others seem cooler. Or maybe the temperature is inconsistent and no matter how low you set the thermostat, the home just won’t cool down.
Along with reduced cooling, you may also experience airflow that seems less powerful. That’s because refrigerant affects the system’s pressure and performance. As the pressure drops, the air output can slow down. This is especially frustrating when you’re trying to keep your home comfortable during a Copperas Cove summer.
The best thing to do if you notice warm air or poor airflow, even if your system seems to be running, is to have our technicians check the refrigerant levels and inspect for any leaks that could be causing the drop in cooling performance.
Protecting Your AC From Further Damage
Refrigerant leaks aren’t just annoying. They can cause long-term damage to your AC system if ignored. Low refrigerant forces your air conditioner to operate under stressful conditions. That extra strain spreads to the compressor, evaporator coils, and fans, increasing the chance of breakdowns and costly repairs.
Ignoring the warning signs can shorten your system’s lifespan. It can also hurt indoor air comfort, especially during the hottest weeks of summer in Copperas Cove when your system is working at full capacity. Taking quick action when you notice these symptoms keeps your cooling system from wearing out early and helps improve performance.
If you think your AC might have a refrigerant leak, getting it checked sooner rather than later can save time, money, and stress. Our professionals know what to look for and how to fix leaks properly. Whether it’s strange noises, warm air, frozen coils, or higher energy bills, we help get systems back on track. Quick repairs mean you won’t keep dealing with the same cooling problems week after week.
If your AC struggles with cooling consistently during these hot Copperas Cove days, relying on professional help can save you from long-term damage. Jormer Enterprises is committed to keeping your home comfortable, and if you notice signs like warm air or unusual noises, scheduling expert AC repair in Copperas Cove can address the issue efficiently. For a quick estimate or to book a service visit, please contact us today.
