{"id":1249,"date":"2023-03-13T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-13T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.firstchoiceheat.com\/blog\/?p=1249"},"modified":"2025-06-18T10:54:34","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T14:54:34","slug":"can-you-fix-a-freon-leak-in-an-air-conditioner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.firstchoiceheat.com\/blog\/air-conditioning-service\/can-you-fix-a-freon-leak-in-an-air-conditioner\/","title":{"rendered":"Can You Fix a Freon Leak in an Air Conditioner?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"AC<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Your air conditioner doesn\u2019t quite feel the same as it used to. It\u2019s running for longer and your house isn\u2019t getting cool as quickly. What  gives?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It could be a number of things, but one major problem could be a freon leak. Freon is the brand name for a chemical blend that\u2019s used as a refrigerant in the lines of your AC. In fact, low refrigerant levels are one of the common reasons AC isn\u2019t cold<\/a> that homeowners encounter during the summer months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But can you fix a freon leak in an air conditioner<\/a>, or does it spell certain doom for your home cooling system? Let\u2019s talk about that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Common Causes of Freon Leaks in AC Units<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first step is to find the source, but how do you know where to look? Your air conditioner uses a closed loop system that\u2019s filled with refrigerant. Now you just need to find it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s a task that\u2019s easier said than done. The refrigerant lines in your air conditioner run through multiple areas. A professional can help you by using a leak detector and their know-how to locate the source of the leak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So how did that freon leak even start in the first place? Freon isn\u2019t exactly a safe chemical. It causes erosion of the metal in the lines, which can eventually wear down enough to spring a small, sometimes even pin-sized hole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can You Fix a Freon Leak Yourself?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It most certainly is not<\/strong>. Freon poses health threats such as irritation of the throat, nose, and even drowsiness that leads to unconsciousness. Ultimately, freon exposure can result in death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you determine that there\u2019s a freon leak, you should never approach it on your own. Cover your nose and mouth, then call for an emergency air conditioner repair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you call, be sure to mention that you believe that there\u2019s a freon leak. It should be treated as an emergency. Step outside until a technician shows up to handle the situation just to be on the safe side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When to Repair vs. Replace an AC with a Leak<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Not at all. Your air conditioner\u2019s refrigerant lines can be repaired, though depending on their age, they may also need to be replaced. The good news is that it doesn\u2019t spell certain disaster for your entire air conditioner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is, if it\u2019s caught early enough. Without enough refrigerant in your air conditioner, you run into the problem of your compressor burning out extremely fast. The compressor isn\u2019t a cheap component to replace. And since compressor issues can be serious<\/a>, delaying repair could result in more expensive consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the time the freon leak becomes apparent enough for you to spot it (if you don\u2019t regularly inspect your air conditioner), it may signal that your AC has other damage. Shut off the air conditioner, call a professional, and get a unit inspection afterwards. In some cases, especially if your system is older, you may even need to repair or replace your AC<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When to Call an HVAC Professional for a Freon Leak<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Freon leaks should be handled by professionals with the proper experience, safety equipment, and tools. Let them diagnose the problem and find the best possible solution. This just simply isn\u2019t one of the problems your AC runs into that can be fixed by a DIY warrior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact First Choice Heating & Cooling today<\/strong><\/a> to schedule your next air conditioner repair. If your home had a voice \u2026 it would call First Choice!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Freon is refrigerant that’s not supposed to leak. But what happens if it does? Can it be repaired, or is your air conditioner in major trouble? Let’s find out.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[70],"tags":[23,90],"class_list":["post-1249","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-air-conditioning-service","tag-air-conditioner-repair","tag-air-conditioning-repair"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.firstchoiceheat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1249","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.firstchoiceheat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.firstchoiceheat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.firstchoiceheat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.firstchoiceheat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1249"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.firstchoiceheat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1249\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1749,"href":"https:\/\/www.firstchoiceheat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1249\/revisions\/1749"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.firstchoiceheat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1249"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.firstchoiceheat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1249"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.firstchoiceheat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1249"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}