Properly operating air conditioning is a prerequisite for obtaining optimal thermal conditions in the room. One of the elements affecting the efficiency of the entire air conditioning system is the tightness of the entire circuit. How to check the tightness of air conditioning? In this article you will find ways to find an air conditioning leak.
Air conditioning leak - when it can occur
One of the indicators of a lack of air conditioning tightness is the low efficiency of the entire system. It may happen that the air conditioning not only cools the air less well, but has stopped working at all. This is the main sign that your air conditioning is leaking. Such a problem may arise especially at a time when you have not used the system for a long period of time - for example, in autumn, winter or spring. In the colder months of the year, Poles relatively rarely use air conditioning, despite the fact that most devices offer the option of heating the air. What's more, air conditioning is not only a system that affects the air temperature in the room. All devices also improve the percentage of humidity in the rooms. What's more, some - more technologically advanced units have a separate air dehumidification function.
How to check the tightness of air conditioning at home?
Is it possible to independently detect air conditioning leaks? Of course - you don't even need specialized equipment or expertise! So how to check the tightness of air conditioning at home? All you have to do is look carefully at the individual elements in the air conditioning system. Indications that there is an air conditioning leak in a specific place are corrosion and oil leakage on the installation or device. Such signs are often visible at first glance and clearly prove that the air conditioning system has lost its tightness, and thus its work efficiency.
The easiest way to check air conditioning leaks does not require any special tools or substances. It can be done by anyone who has water and soap or dishwashing liquid at their disposal. This method involves the use of a foaming agent which, under the influence of the gas that escapes through the gap, starts to foam. It is enough to apply a portion of the foaming substance to places where air-conditioning leaks may occur - i.e. wires, hoses, connectors, valves, etc. In this way, you can detect elements of the system where there is a leaking air conditioning.
Another way to check the tightness of air conditioning requires the use of contrast, which will be visible using a UV lamp. For this purpose, a contrast agent must be introduced into the working medium. As a result, the place of the leak will be clearly visible under the light of the UV lamp. When using this method, it is worth remembering to wear special glasses that will protect your eyes from UV rays. This method gives satisfactory measurement accuracy.
The third way to quickly check the system for air conditioning leaks requires the use of more advanced equipment - i.e. an electronic leak detector. How to check the air conditioning with this device? The electronic leak detector allows you to very precisely determine the location of air conditioning leaks, which makes this method more and more popular. The device allows you to check the air conditioning and detect even the smallest leaks from the air conditioning. The advantage of the device is the extremely simple operation consisting in moving the measuring head along the wires and components of the air conditioning system at the appropriate speed. When a leak is detected, an audible signal informs the operator that a leak has been detected.
A/C Leak Detection - Leave it to the professionals
If you do not feel strong enough to verify the tightness of the air conditioning system yourself or you do not have time to do it yourself, ask for help from professionals. If you are already in the cooling season and the air conditioning in your home has already undergone an annual inspection, you should order a service strictly to check the tightness and repair any damage.
However, if you have noticed leaks in your air conditioning system or suspect that they exist even before the annual service check - you are in luck! It is worth remembering that maintenance and inspection of air conditioning carried out by a professional team of service technicians should always include not only cleaning and fumigation of devices, but also checking the tightness of the air conditioning system or the level of the refrigerant. The loss of the working medium directly indicates that there is a leak in the system, which results in a decrease in the efficiency of the entire system.
Therefore, it is worth remembering that air conditioning service should be done at least once a year if you use air conditioning only to cool rooms, or twice a year if you also use air conditioning to heat the air in your home. These works will ensure that the system is always ready to work, while ensuring clean and healthy air in your home.
