When your air conditioner is running properly, your house will be cool and dry. A leaking air conditioner is frustrating but isn’t necessarily harmful. It depends on whether it’s leaking water or coolant.
Water leaking from your air conditioner isn’t bad but can cause a lot of damage to your home. On the other hand, a coolant leak is dangerous for you and the environment. In either case, fixing a leak will require professional air conditioning repair.
In most instances, you can prevent your air conditioner from leaking by scheduling yearly air conditioning maintenance. During your appointment, an HVAC tech will closely examine your system for issues and clean it. This service helps ensure worry-free performance and may even boost energy efficiency.
Find out why your air conditioner is leaking and how you can stop 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 includes an evaporator coil that cools warm air as it moves over it. Condensation occurs as the air cools, flows into a drain pan and drains out of your home through a condensate drain line.
Due to the condensation process, having water leak is a common problem. We regularly receive calls about an air conditioner leaking water inside or an air conditioner leaking water outside. Here’s why it happens:
Drain Line Is Plugged
As time passes, mold can clog the condensate drain line. This can lead to water leaking inside your house. Our Herman Allen Plumbing, Heating & Cooling pros can eliminate clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Reach us at 804-302-6657 for assistance.
Air Filter Is Dirty
We recommend changing flat filters once a month and pleated filters every three months.
Replacing your air filter is crucial for:
- Indoor air quality
- Energy efficiency
- Reducing breakdowns
- Lengthening your air conditioner’s life span
A dirty air filter can reduce 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 replaced it lately and your air conditioner is leaking water indoors.
If this doesn’t resolve the issue, your drain pan might be rusty or have a malfunctioning condensate pump. Getting a new pan or pump requires a pro, so contact us at 804-302-6657 for help.
Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?
Your air conditioner needs coolant to move heat. If your air conditioner was put in before 2011, it likely uses R-22 Freon. Over time, chemicals in Freon can eat through metal and cause leaks.
It’s important to know about air conditioner Freon leak symptoms in case your system develops one. They include:
- Air that seems hotter or more humid than normal
- Bubbling or hissing sounds near the air conditioner
- Sweet smell near the air conditioner
- Frozen evaporator coil
Freon is bad for your health if handled improperly, so you’ll need an HVAC pro like Herman Allen Plumbing, Heating & Cooling to repair an air conditioner coolant leak. In many situations, it may just be better to schedule air conditioning installation since Freon is expensive. Production of this coolant was halted in 2020 because of its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a result, just limited recycled quantities are available.
Rely on Herman Allen Plumbing, Heating & Cooling for Fixing Your Air Conditioner Leaks
When it comes to air conditioning repair in Greater Richmond, turn to the company your neighbors and friends trust. We’ve been known for our fast, friendly and reasonable services since {year}. Contact us at 804-302-6657 to request your appointment now!