What is a common symptom of a leak in an AC system?

A common symptom of a leak in an AC system is reduced cooling performance. When refrigerant leaks from the system, there is less refrigerant available to absorb heat from the interior of the vehicle. This reduction in refrigerant directly affects the system’s ability to cool the air being circulated, resulting in warmer air output from the vents.

While increased compressor noise, frequent cycling of the compressor, and ice buildup on the evaporator can be associated with various problems within an AC system, they are not as direct of an indication of a refrigerant leak. Increased compressor noise can occur due to mechanical issues, frequent cycling may be related to other issues like thermal overloads or improper refrigerant levels, and ice buildup often indicates that there may be airflow restrictions rather than a leak specifically. Thus, reduced cooling performance is a more straightforward symptom indicating that the AC system is not functioning optimally due to a refrigerant leak.