A refrigerant leak in an air conditioning system will typically result in which of the following?

A refrigerant leak in an air conditioning system leads to a reduction of refrigerant within the system, which directly impacts both the suction and discharge pressures. The refrigerant is essential for maintaining proper pressure levels; when the refrigerant is insufficient due to a leak, the suction pressure drops because there isn't enough refrigerant vapor to absorb heat from the indoor air. Consequently, the discharge pressure also decreases as there is less refrigerant to compress effectively.

This scenario disrupts the overall cooling cycle of the air conditioning system, resulting in inadequate performance. Proper refrigerant levels are crucial for the system to operate efficiently and effectively, hence the drop in both pressures when a leak occurs.

Understanding that low suction and discharge pressures indicate a problem can aid technicians in diagnosing refrigerant leaks quickly, enabling timely repairs and restoring system efficiency.