When your air conditioner is running properly, your home will be cool and dry. A leaking air conditioner is annoying but isn’t necessarily harmful. It depends on whether it’s leaking water or refrigerant.
Water leaking from your air conditioner isn’t dangerous but can cause a lot of damage to your house. In contrast, a coolant leak is harmful to you and the environment. In either case, repairing a leak will require skilled air conditioning repair.
In most cases, you can stop your air conditioner from leaking by requesting annual air conditioning maintenance. During your appointment, an HVAC tech will closely examine your system for problems and clean it. This service helps provide worry-free cooling and might even improve energy efficiency.
Learn more about why your air conditioner is leaking and how you can prevent it from happening in the future.
Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Water?
Water is a natural byproduct of the cooling process. Your air conditioner has two systems, one outside and one inside. The indoor unit includes an evaporator coil that cools warm air as it blows over it. Condensation forms as the air cools, drips into a drain pan and drains out of your house through a condensate drain line.
Because of the condensation process, having water back up is a common problem. We often receive calls about an air conditioner leaking water inside or an air conditioner leaking water outside. Here’s why it occurs:
Drain Line Is Clogged
Over time, mold can block the condensate drain line. This can lead to water backing up inside your house. Our Childress Heating & AC pros can break up clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Give us a call at 540-675-4306 for help.
Air Filter Is Dirty
We recommend changing flat filters monthly and pleated filters every three months.
Replacing your air filter is crucial for:
- Indoor air quality
- Energy efficiency
- Decreasing breakdowns
- Extending your air conditioner’s life span
A dirty air filter can reduce airflow, make the coil extremely cold and cause it to freeze. As the coil melts, it can make the drain pan overflow. We suggest inspecting your air filter if you haven’t replaced it lately and your air conditioner is leaking water indoors.
If this doesn’t fix the issue, your drain pan may be rusty or have a broken condensate pump. Getting a new pan or pump requires a professional, so call us at 540-675-4306 for assistance.
Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?
Your air conditioner needs coolant to move heat. If your air conditioner was installed before 2011, it likely has R-22 Freon. As time passes, chemicals in Freon can eat away at metal and create leaks.
It’s good to know about air conditioner Freon leak symptoms in the event your system develops one. They include:
- Air that seems hotter or more humid than normal
- Bubbling or hissing noises by the air conditioner
- Sweet odor by the air conditioner
- Frozen evaporator coil
Freon is hazardous to your health if handled improperly, so you’ll want an HVAC professional like Childress Heating & AC to fix an air conditioner coolant leak. In many instances, it may just be better to schedule air conditioning installation since Freon is expensive. Manufacturing of this coolant was halted in 2020 because of its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a result, only limited recycled quantities are available.
Rely on Childress Heating & AC for Fixing Your Air Conditioner Leaks
When it comes to air conditioning repair in Fredericksburg, go with the company your neighbors and friends depend on. We’ve been known for our fast, friendly and reasonable services since {year}. Contact us at 540-675-4306 to schedule your appointment now!