When your air conditioner is working properly, your house will be cool and dry. A leaking air conditioner is frustrating but isn’t necessarily dangerous. 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 situation, repairing a leak will require professional air conditioning repair.
In most cases, you can stop your air conditioner from leaking by scheduling yearly air conditioning maintenance. During your appointment, an HVAC tech will closely inspect your system for problems and clean it. This service helps provide worry-free cooling and may even boost energy efficiency.
Find out 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 result of the cooling process. Your air conditioner has two units, one outside and one inside. The indoor unit has an evaporator coil that cools warm air as it moves over it. Condensation forms as the air cools, drips into a drain pan and goes 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 Plugged
Over time, mold can clog the condensate drain line. This can result in water leaking inside your house. Our Watts Electric & AC professionals can eliminate clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Reach us at 601-736-7362 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
- Lengthening your air conditioner’s life span
A dirty air filter can restrict airflow, make the coil very cold and cause it to freeze. As the coil melts, it can overwhelm the drain pan. We suggest checking your air filter if you haven’t changed 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. Replacing your pan or pump requires a pro, so contact us at 601-736-7362 for assistance.
Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?
Your air conditioner uses coolant to move heat. If your air conditioner was put in before 2011, it probably has R-22 Freon. As time passes, chemicals in Freon can eat through metal and create leaks.
It’s important to know about air conditioner Freon leak symptoms in the event your system develops one. They include:
- Air that seems warmer or more humid than usual
- Bubbling or hissing sounds by the air conditioner
- Sweet smell by the air conditioner
- Frozen evaporator coil
Freon is hazardous to your health if handled improperly, so you’ll want an HVAC pro like Watts Electric & AC to repair an air conditioner coolant leak. In most instances, it might just be better to schedule air conditioning installation since Freon is expensive. Production of this coolant was halted in 2020 because of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. As a result, only reduced recycled quantities are available.
Rely on Watts Electric & AC for Repairing Your Air Conditioner Leaks
When it comes to air conditioning repair in Columbia, turn to the company your neighbors and friends trust. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and affordable services since {year}. Contact us at 601-736-7362 to schedule your appointment now!