What is a common indicator of a refrigerant leak?

Ice buildup on components is a common indicator of a refrigerant leak because the refrigerant is responsible for absorbing heat during the cooling process. When there is a leak, the system may not have enough refrigerant to maintain proper pressure and temperature levels. This can lead to lower evaporation temperatures, causing moisture in the air to freeze on evaporator coils or other components, resulting in ice buildup.

While increased energy usage, unusual sounds from the compressor, and higher ambient temperatures may be symptoms of other issues within the refrigeration system, they are not as directly related to refrigerant leaks as ice buildup. The presence of ice signals that the cooling process is not functioning properly, which is a direct consequence of insufficient refrigerant in the system.