When your air conditioner is running 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 coolant.
Water leaking from your air conditioner isn’t dangerous but can cause a lot of damage to your home. 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 requesting annual 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 cooling and might even boost 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 the cooling process. 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 occurs as the air cools, flows 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 Clogged
Over time, mold can clog the condensate drain line. This can lead to water leaking inside your home. Our US Air Heating and Cooling pros can eliminate clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Reach us at 803-220-0761 for help.
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 lifetime
A dirty air filter can restrict airflow, make the coil extremely 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 replaced it lately and your air conditioner is leaking water indoors.
If this doesn’t resolve the problem, your drain pan may be rusty or have a malfunctioning condensate pump. Getting a new pan or pump requires a professional, so contact us at 803-220-0761 for assistance.
Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?
Your air conditioner uses coolant to move heat. If your air conditioner was installed before 2011, it likely uses 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 develops one. They include:
- Air that seems warmer or more humid than normal
- Bubbling or hissing noises near the air conditioner
- Sweet odor near the air conditioner
- Frozen evaporator coil
Freon is bad for your health if handled improperly, so you’ll want an HVAC professional like US Air Heating and Cooling to fix an air conditioner coolant leak. In most situations, it may just be better to schedule air conditioning installation since Freon is expensive. Manufacturing of this coolant was halted in 2020 due to its damaging effects on the ozone layer. As a result, only reduced recycled quantities are available.
Rely on US Air Heating and Cooling for Fixing Your Air Conditioner Leaks
When it comes to air conditioning repair in Rock Hill, go with the company your neighbors and friends trust. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and reasonable services since 2005. Contact us at 803-220-0761 to schedule your appointment today!