When your air conditioner is working properly, your home will be cool and dry. A leaking air conditioner is annoying but isn’t necessarily dangerous. It depends on whether it’s leaking water or coolant.
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 dangerous for you and the environment. In either case, fixing a leak will require skilled air conditioning repair.
In most instances, you can stop your air conditioner from leaking by scheduling annual 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 might even improve energy efficiency.
Learn more about 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 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 blows over it. Condensation forms as the air cools, drips into a drain pan and goes out of your home through a condensate drain line.
Because of the condensation process, having water back up is a common problem. We often get calls about an air conditioner leaking water inside or an air conditioner leaking water outside. Here’s why it occurs:
Drain Line Is Plugged
As time passes, mold can clog the condensate drain line. This can lead to water backing up inside your home. Our May's Heating & Air pros can break up clogs and get water draining again smoothly. Reach us at 301-690-0397 for assistance.
Air Filter Is Dirty
We recommend replace 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 extremely cold and cause it to freeze. 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 issue, your drain pan may be rusty or have a broken condensate pump. Replacing your pan or pump requires a pro, so call us at 301-690-0397 for assistance.
Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?
Your air conditioner relies on coolant to move heat. If your air conditioner was installed before 2011, it probably uses R-22 Freon. Over time, chemicals in Freon can eat away at metal and cause leaks.
It’s important to know about air conditioner Freon leak symptoms in case your system has one. They include:
- Air that seems warmer or more humid than normal
- Bubbling or hissing noises near 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 May's Heating & Air to fix an air conditioner coolant leak. In most instances, it might just be better to schedule air conditioning installation since Freon is expensive. Manufacturing of this coolant was stopped in 2020 due to its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a result, only reduced recycled quantities are available.
Rely on May's Heating & Air for Fixing Your Air Conditioner Leaks
When it comes to air conditioning repair in Frederick, go with the company your neighbors and friends trust. We’ve been known for our fast, friendly and affordable services since year. Call us at 301-690-0397 to request your appointment today!