Where Is The Most Common AC Leak?

Here are the places where you should look for leakage if your AC system shows refrigerant leakage signs. Contact Mini Split AC in Lawndale CA if you find any leakage:

• Capillary tube: The capillary tube is a thin, long, fixed-length copper tube found in the outdoor unit near the condenser coils. The role of the capillary tube is to maintain the refrigerant pressure as it moves toward the evaporator coil in the indoor unit.
  The capillary tube’s mounting hardware often gets damaged as it loosens due to constant vibrations from the condenser’s motor. As the loosened parts start to rub against other metal components, the tube develops tiny holes due to friction.
• Flare fittings: You can find flare fittings in the air conditioning system when a capillary tube or any metal section of components needs to be connected to different AC metallic components. A flare fitting requires a flare nut that is tightened and compressed at the end of the metallic tube to prevent refrigerant leakage.
  However, with time and constant vibrations from the condenser motor, the flare fitting nuts loosen, leaving the refrigerant to escape.
• Evaporator coil: Evaporator coils are one of the fundamental components in the AC system assembly as it helps cool down the air. It contains the compressed refrigerant that takes the heat from the indoor air and cools down the surrounding air.
  However, in the heat transfer process, the air cools down rapidly and forms condensation droplets on the coils. These droplets react with VOCs (Volatile organic compounds) in your room, forming formic acid. Formic acid precipitate eats away the copper coils, and the coils form tiny holes from where refrigerant can leak away.