When your air conditioner is working properly, your home 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 house. On the other hand, a coolant leak is harmful to 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 yearly air conditioning maintenance. During your appointment, an HVAC tech will closely examine your system for problems and clean it. This service helps provide worry-free performance and may even boost energy efficiency.
Find out 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 the cooling process. 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 house through a condensate drain line.
Due to the condensation process, having water leak is a common problem. We often receive calls about an air conditioner leaking water inside or an air conditioner leaking water outside. Here’s why it occurs:
Drain Line Is Plugged
Over time, mold can clog the condensate drain line. This can lead to water backing up inside your home. Our West Jefferson Plumbing and Heating, Inc. professionals can eliminate clogs and get water draining again smoothly. Give us a call at 614-879-9091 for assistance.
Air Filter Needs to Be Changed
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
- Extending your air conditioner’s lifetime
A dirty air filter can restrict airflow, make the coil very 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 resolve the problem, 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 614-879-9091 for help.
Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?
Your air conditioner needs coolant to move heat. If your air conditioner was installed before 2011, it probably uses R-22 Freon. As time passes, chemicals in Freon can eat away at metal and cause leaks.
It’s good to know about air conditioner Freon leak symptoms in case your system develops 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 hazardous to your health if handled improperly, so you’ll want an HVAC professional like West Jefferson Plumbing and Heating, Inc. to repair an air conditioner coolant leak. In most instances, it may just be better to schedule air conditioning installation since Freon is costly. Production of this coolant was stopped in 2020 because of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. As a result, just limited recycled quantities are available.
Trust West Jefferson Plumbing and Heating, Inc. for Repairing Your Air Conditioner Leaks
When it comes to air conditioning repair in West Jefferson, go with the company your neighbors and friends depend on. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and affordable services since 1976. Call us at 614-879-9091 to request your appointment now!