Inside your air conditioner, you’ll find the evaporator coil. If your air conditioner is leaking water, you may have a problem with the evaporator coil. The evaporator coil takes heat from within! your home and transmits it to the outside using refrigerant gas.

Isn’t it relatively self-explanatory? So, what happens if your evaporator coil leaks? If your interior coil leaks refrigerant, the system will take a long time to cool your home… if it cools at all. Even if your air conditioner does not immediately shut off, it will run for more extended periods. The system’s ability to cool will be reduced as the leak worsens.

In this post, you’ll learn the signs of an evaporator coil leak, why they happen, and what you can do about it.

What Causes A Leak In An Evaporator Coil?

A refrigerant leak will most likely occur on your air conditioners inside the coil.

The chemical reaction between the copper used in their construction, and excessive humidity. and volatile organic compounds cause evaporator coil leaks (VOCs). They combine to make formic acid, which corrodes copper. Many common household goods emit VOCs. Household cleaning goods, some cosmetics, air fresheners, flooring materials, paint, and dry cleaning, among other things, contain them.

Mold and biofilms that form on the coil are other causes of evaporator coil leakage. Both slowly weaken the copper’s integrity, eventually leading to a leak if not addressed.

Here’s how to protect your evaporator coils from leaking:

• Reduce your home’s VOCs. This helps to purify the indoor air while also preventing coil leaks. Leaks are dangerous because they can release hazardous refrigerants into your home. It could be unsafe to breathe if your system employs R-22 refrigerant, also known as R-22. Newer refrigerants are less dangerous. but they still have the potential to cause respiratory problems. In general, opt for low-VOC household goods.
• Use an energy recovery ventilator (ERV). During the long cooling season, these balanced ventilation systems allow you to draw fresh air into your home. while expelling contaminated air outside without wasting your cooling money. ERVs are used to transfer thermal energy and humidity between outflowing and inflowing air streams. These systems improve overall air quality (IAQ) and lower VOC levels.
• Install UV (ultraviolet) lights in the air handler to avoid mold and bacteria growth. This reduces corrosion, which leads to evaporator coil leaking.

Evaporator Coil Leak Symptoms

Poor performance, like with other AC problems, is the first sign of a broken evaporator. Because the AC evaporator is the main component responsible for removing heat from the air, failure is easy to spot. Alaqua is an evaporators supplier in the USA that offers various other processing equipment for food, pharmaceutical, environmental, chemical, and power generation industries.

However, there are four more symptoms that your AC evaporator is damaged:

Cool air is either weak or absent: The effectiveness of the air conditioning system will be harmed if the AC Evaporator coil or core is leaking. The lower the cooling capacity, the bigger the leak.

When using your air conditioner. you notice an unusual odor! A little amount of refrigerant (not coolant) will leak from the coil, and core. or seals if your air conditioner’s evaporator is leaking. When the air conditioner is turned on, the sweet perfume will get stronger.

The air conditioner’s compressor will not turn on: The compressor’s job is to circulate refrigerant through the evaporator. To work, it must maintain a set pressure. As a result, if there is a leak, the pressure in the system is lowered, and the compressor is turned off.

The temperature of the air conditioner will fluctuate: Even if there is a minor leak in the evaporator, the air conditioner will continue to cool. If the temperature fluctuates, it could be a sign that the AC evaporator is damaged.

Fixing The Evaporator Coil Leak:

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Repair is unfortunately not a possibility. To fix the leaks on your own, there is no reliable technique. Evaporator coils are big, dark components with tiny dips, fissures, curves, and hard-to-see, hard-to-reach locations. When it comes to discovering leaks, the metaphor of a needle in a haystack applies.

Also, keep in mind that you may be dealing with multiple small leaks rather than just one large one.

As a result, you’ll most likely need to replace your coil, air handler, or entire HVAC system. It all depends on the type of system you have, how old it is, and what your long-term heating and cooling requirements are.

If you suspect refrigerant connection issues due to leaks in the evaporator coil, reach out to your reliable HVAC specialist. Only a professional should check for refrigeration leaks due to their potential dangers. A specialist will examine the system thoroughly and can detect a refrigerant leak. Keep in mind that some experts may attempt to solve the problem by adding extra refrigerant or sealing the holes. Avoid recommending it as it may result in refrigerant leakage, leading to financial waste. Although a new coil is not inexpensive, it can be a better investment because it will allow your system to adequately cool your home.

Preventing Leaks of Evaporator Coils:

While it is not suggested that you fix a leaky evaporator coil yourself, there are several things you may do to avoid future leaks. Evaporator coil leaks can be prevented by controlling indoor humidity, and decreasing VOCs in the air! and employing ultraviolet (UV) lighting inside the air handler.

• In addition to the air conditioner. a whole-house dehumidifier can help control humidity by eliminating extra water vapor from interiors throughout the summer.
• While it’s impossible to eliminate VOCs entirely, choosing items labeled with low or no VOCs can reduce indoor emissions and enhance air quality.
• Directing UV light at the evaporator coil prevents mold and bacteria from reproducing.

Erosion is one of the most common causes of the evaporator coil deteriorating over time. The weaker the coils, the more likely your air conditioner may leak. If you’re experiencing trouble with the coil, seek professional help.

Alaqua is processing equipment such as an evaporator, crystallizer, distillation, heat exchangers, solvent recovery, spray dryers, and evaporator heat exchanger supplier in the USA. We also offer various services such as installation and commissioning, personnel training, troubleshooting, etc services for processing equipment. Request a quote today!