If your central AC system has started to ice up, then you may have a leak in your system. This means that you have the choice between hiring a professional for an HVAC repair or going with a complete replacement. There are a few things to think about when making this decision. Keep reading to learn what they are.

How Old Is The System?

When AC units start to get old, they will leak fluid. Oftentimes, this happens around joints where the main coil is attached to the outdoor tubing that leads to your home. And, if one leak has started to develop, others may be forming elsewhere within the system. This is likely if the unit is reaching the end of its life. Most HVAC systems will last 10 or 15 years in areas where they are used during the spring and summer months only.

So, if your unit is one that is five years old or even 10 years old in a colder climate area, then think about getting the unit fixed. The leak is less likely caused by old age and may just be a simple fault in the unit. In this situation, you may still have a lot of use left in the system, meaning that a leak repair is a viable fix and not simply a bandaid.

Keep in mind that your unit will be out of commission for a day or two during the fix. This is the case since the unit will need to be completely emptied of all coolant before the repair is made. It will then need to be filled back up with new refrigerant and this can take some time.

How Much Of The Coolant Is Gone?

HVAC professionals will use a wide variety of tools to figure out where a leak is located within the coolant line. However, it may not always be possible to determine how big the leak is. HVAC professionals will often use the remaining pressure within the system to determine whether or not the leak is small or large. Basically, if you have a 2.5 ton unit that uses 8 pounds of coolant in the system and you are only missing one-half pound of pressure, then the leak is smaller. If the pressure has dropped by half or more, then the leak is large or there are multiple leaks in the system.

Bigger leaks mean potentially more serious issues and a need for a full replacement of the unit in the future. So, opt for the repair if minimal coolant is missing.

For more information, contact an HVAC repair service.