When your air conditioner is running properly, your house 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 home. On the other hand, a coolant leak is dangerous for you and the environment. In either situation, repairing a leak will require skilled air conditioning repair.
In most instances, you can stop your air conditioner from leaking by requesting annual air conditioning maintenance. During your appointment, an HVAC tech will closely inspect your system for issues and clean it. This service helps ensure worry-free cooling and might even boost 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 air conditioning. 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 forms as the air cools, flows into a drain pan and goes out of your house 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 block the condensate drain line. This can lead to water backing up inside your home. Our Age Heating & Cooling professionals can eliminate clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Give us a call at 208-578-4258 for help.
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
- Decreasing breakdowns
- Lengthening your air conditioner’s life span
A dirty air filter can restrict airflow, make the coil very cold and freeze it. As the coil melts, it can overwhelm the drain pan. We recommend 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 problem, your drain pan may be rusty or have a malfunctioning condensate pump. Replacing your pan or pump requires a professional, so contact us at 208-578-4258 for assistance.
Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?
Your air conditioner uses coolant to transfer heat. If your air conditioner was put in before 2011, it likely has R-22 Freon. As time passes, chemicals in Freon can eat through metal and cause leaks.
It’s important to know about air conditioner Freon leak symptoms in the event your system develops one. They include:
- Air that feels warmer or more humid than normal
- Bubbling or hissing noises 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 want an HVAC pro like Age Heating & Cooling to fix an air conditioner coolant leak. In many situations, it may just be better to schedule air conditioning installation since Freon is costly. Production of this coolant was stopped in 2020 due to its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a result, only limited recycled quantities are available.
Trust Age Heating & Cooling for Repairing Your Air Conditioner Leaks
When it comes to air conditioning repair in Sandpoint, turn to the company your neighbors and friends depend on. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and affordable services since 2022. Call us at 208-578-4258 to schedule your appointment now!