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 bad but can cause a lot of damage to your house. On the other hand, a coolant leak is harmful to you and the environment. In either case, repairing a leak will require professional air conditioning repair.
In most cases, you can stop your air conditioner from leaking by requesting yearly air conditioning maintenance. During your appointment, an HVAC technician will closely inspect your system for issues and clean it. This service helps provide worry-free cooling and may 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 byproduct of air conditioning. 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 home through a condensate drain line.
Due to 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 Clogged
Over time, mold can clog the condensate drain line. This can result in water backing up inside your home. Our Central Heating & Plumbing professionals can break up clogs and get water draining again smoothly. Give us a call at 724-401-1843 for help.
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
- Extending your air conditioner’s lifetime
A dirty air filter can reduce airflow, make the coil very cold and freeze it. As the coil melts, it can overwhelm the drain pan. We suggest inspecting 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 broken condensate pump. Getting a new pan or pump requires a pro, so contact us at 724-401-1843 for assistance.
Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?
Your air conditioner relies on coolant to move heat. If your air conditioner was put in before 2011, it likely has R-22 Freon. As time passes, chemicals in Freon can eat away at metal and create leaks.
It’s good to know about air conditioner Freon leak symptoms in case your system has one. They include:
- Air that seems hotter or more humid than normal
- Bubbling or hissing noises near the air conditioner
- Sweet odor by the air conditioner
- Frozen evaporator coil
Freon is bad for your health if handled improperly, so you’ll need an HVAC pro like Central Heating & Plumbing to fix an air conditioner coolant leak. In most instances, it may just be better to request air conditioning installation since Freon is expensive. Manufacturing 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 Central Heating & Plumbing for Fixing Your Air Conditioner Leaks
When it comes to air conditioning repair in New Castle, go with the company your neighbors and friends trust. We’ve been known for our fast, friendly and affordable services since {year}. Contact us at 724-401-1843 to schedule your appointment now!