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 bad but can cause a lot of damage to your home. On the other hand, a coolant leak is harmful to 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 requesting yearly 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 performance 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 result of air conditioning. Your air conditioner has two systems, one outside and one inside. The indoor unit has an evaporator coil that cools warm air as it blows over it. Condensation forms 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 back up 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 occurs:

Drain Line Is Clogged

Over time, mold can clog the condensate drain line. This can lead to water leaking inside your house. 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 Needs to Be Changed

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 reduce airflow, make the coil extremely cold and cause it to freeze. As the coil melts, it can overwhelm the drain pan. We recommend 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 might be rusty or have a malfunctioning condensate pump. Getting a new pan or pump requires a professional, so call us at 301-690-0397 for help.

Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?

Your air conditioner relies on 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 good to know about air conditioner Freon leak symptoms in case your system has one. They include:

  • Air that feels warmer or more humid than usual
  • 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 pro like May's Heating & Air to fix an air conditioner coolant leak. In many instances, it might just be better to request air conditioning installation since Freon is expensive. Production of this coolant was stopped in 2020 because of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. As a result, only limited 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, turn to the company your neighbors and friends depend on. We’ve been known for our fast, friendly and reasonable services since {year}. Call us at 301-690-0397 to request your appointment now!