Heating & Air Conditioning Building a Home

AC Leaking Behind Walls?

8 years ago

We just had a home built and moved in about a week ago. I noticed that when the AC is running there is a very noticeable airy sound behind the wall near the light switch in my boys bedroom. Of course when the unit is running I expect air to be moving but this is a very distinct noise behind the wall.

My concern is that there may be a hole in the duct work or some issue causing the sound of the air to be so much less insulated. I asked the builder's project manager about it and without even going up to listen to it he said "That's just Freon moving through the pipes. In some houses you hear it and some you don't".

Could there be any truth to this? Is it possible or likely that there is a leak of some kind? Any help is greatly appreciated, especially from any professionals out there.

Thanks!

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Comments (5)

zneret
8 years ago
If there was a coolant gas leak, your AC won't be working for long.

The sound you hear may be air moving through a duct (have to figure out where the ducts are), and/or it could be leaking through a poor joint that wasn't sealed properly if at all.

If you have a contactless thermometer, or a temp camera and can record temp on the wll when the a/c (or heat) hs been running, and say 1/2 h after it has, and find cold (or hot) spots, it may be a leak.
dianaj76 thanked zneret
mike_home
8 years ago
Remove the light switch cover plate and see if you feel air flow while the AC is running on its highest speed. If you do, then that would indicate duct leakage, or possibly a unconnected duct.

Where is lineset (copper tubing running from the outside condenser to the air handler or furnace) located in relationship to your son's bedroom? I can understand hearing the compressor or blower running. The freon flowing moving through pipes story is nonsense in my opinion.
dianaj76 thanked mike_home
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dianaj76
Original Author
8 years ago
Unfortunately, I am not sure about the lineset but I will definitely remove the switch cover to feel for air. Thank you for the suggestion!
dadoes
8 years ago
Refrigerant can be heard in some instances but typically is more likely to be briefly while pressure equalizes after the unit cycles off than while it's running.
klem1
8 years ago
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