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 coolant.
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 professional air conditioning repair.
In most cases, you can prevent your air conditioner from leaking by requesting yearly air conditioning maintenance. During your appointment, an HVAC tech will closely check your system for problems 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 byproduct 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 moves over it. Condensation occurs as the air cools, drips into a drain pan and drains out of your home through a condensate drain line.
Because of the condensation process, having water leak is a common problem. We regularly get calls about an air conditioner leaking water inside or an air conditioner leaking water outside. Here’s why it happens:
Drain Line Is Plugged
Over time, mold can clog the condensate drain line. This can result in water backing up inside your home. Our Service Max Heating & Air Conditioning pros can break up clogs and get water draining again smoothly. Give us a call at 360-255-5857 for assistance.
Air Filter Is Dirty
We recommend changing flat filters monthly and pleated filters every three months.
Replacing your air filter is critical for:
- Indoor air quality
- Energy efficiency
- Decreasing breakdowns
- Extending your air conditioner’s life span
A dirty air filter can restrict airflow, make the coil very cold and cause it to freeze. As the coil defrosts, 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 might be rusty or have a malfunctioning condensate pump. Getting a new pan or pump requires a professional, so contact us at 360-255-5857 for help.
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 uses R-22 Freon. Over time, chemicals in Freon can eat through metal and create leaks.
It’s important to know about air conditioner Freon leak symptoms in the event your system develops one. They include:
- Air that feels hotter or more humid than usual
- Bubbling or hissing sounds 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 professional like Service Max Heating & Air Conditioning to fix an air conditioner coolant leak. In many situations, it might just be better to request air conditioning installation since Freon is costly. Production of this coolant was halted in 2020 due to its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a result, only reduced recycled quantities are available.
Rely on Service Max Heating & Air Conditioning for Repairing Your Air Conditioner Leaks
When it comes to air conditioning repair in Arlington, go with the company your neighbors and friends trust. We’ve been known for our fast, friendly and reasonable services since 2012. Call us at 360-255-5857 to schedule your appointment now!