What is a common symptom indicating a refrigerant leak in an AC system?

A common symptom indicating a refrigerant leak in an AC system is reduced cooling performance and ice formation on the evaporator coil. When there is a leak in the refrigerant line, the system will not have enough refrigerant to absorb heat effectively. This leads to lower cooling efficiency, as the evaporator coil cannot extract sufficient heat from the indoor air. The lack of proper refrigerant also causes the coil to get excessively cold, which can result in moisture from the air freezing on it, thereby forming ice.

This symptom is critical as it not only highlights the refrigerant issue but also indicates potential larger problems, such as impaired airflow due to ice restrictions, which can lead to further strain on the AC system if not addressed promptly. Hence, monitoring cooling performance and observing condensation or ice formation is essential for early detection of refrigerant leaks and proper maintenance of the air conditioning system.