When your air conditioner is working properly, your house will be cool and dry. A leaking air conditioner is frustrating 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 home. On the other hand, a coolant leak is harmful to you and the environment. In either situation, fixing a leak will require skilled air conditioning repair.
In most cases, you can stop your air conditioner from leaking by scheduling annual air conditioning maintenance. During your appointment, an HVAC tech will closely inspect your system for problems and clean it. This service helps provide worry-free cooling and may 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 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, 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 get calls about an air conditioner leaking water inside or an air conditioner leaking water outside. Here’s why it happens:
Drain Line Is Clogged
As time passes, mold can block the condensate drain line. This can result in water backing up inside your home. Our Anderson Heating & A/C pros can eliminate clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Reach us at 775-230-7628 for assistance.
Air Filter Is Dirty
We recommend replace flat filters monthly and pleated filters every three months.
Replacing your air filter is critical for:
- Indoor air quality
- Energy efficiency
- Reducing 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 defrosts, it can overwhelm the drain pan. We suggest 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 problem, your drain pan may be rusty or have a malfunctioning condensate pump. Replacing your pan or pump requires a professional, so call us at 775-230-7628 for help.
Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?
Your air conditioner uses coolant to move heat. If your air conditioner was put in 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 has one. They include:
- Air that feels hotter or more humid than usual
- Bubbling or hissing sounds by the air conditioner
- Sweet smell near the air conditioner
- Frozen evaporator coil
Freon is hazardous to your health if handled improperly, so you’ll want an HVAC professional like Anderson Heating & A/C to fix an air conditioner coolant leak. In many situations, it might just be better to request air conditioning installation since Freon is expensive. Production of this coolant was halted in 2020 due to its damaging effects on the ozone layer. As a result, just reduced recycled quantities are available.
Trust Anderson Heating & A/C for Repairing Your Air Conditioner Leaks
When it comes to air conditioning repair in Carson City, go with the company your neighbors and friends trust. We’ve been known for our fast, friendly and reasonable services since 1984. Contact us at 775-230-7628 to request your appointment today!