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 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 scheduling annual air conditioning maintenance. During your appointment, an HVAC technician will closely check your system for problems 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 result 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.
Because of 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 Plugged
As time passes, mold can block the condensate drain line. This can result in water backing up inside your house. Our Air-Right Energy Design pros can eliminate clogs and get water draining again smoothly. Reach us at 703-260-1148 for help.
Air Filter Needs to Be Changed
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
- Lengthening your air conditioner’s life span
A dirty air filter can restrict airflow, make the coil very cold and freeze it. As the coil defrosts, it can make the drain pan overflow. 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 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 703-260-1148 for assistance.
Why Won’t My Air Conditioning Stop Leaking Freon?
Your air conditioner needs coolant to transfer heat. If your air conditioner was installed before 2011, it probably 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 warmer or more humid than usual
- Bubbling or hissing sounds by the air conditioner
- Sweet smell by the air conditioner
- Frozen evaporator coil
Freon is hazardous to your health if handled improperly, so you’ll want an HVAC professional like Air-Right Energy Design to fix an air conditioner coolant leak. In most situations, it might just be better to request air conditioning installation since Freon is costly. Production of this coolant was stopped in 2020 due to its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a result, only limited recycled quantities are available.
Trust Air-Right Energy Design to Fix Your Air Conditioner Leaks
When it comes to air conditioning repair in Manassas, turn to the company your neighbors and friends depend on. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and affordable services since year. Call us at 703-260-1148 to request your appointment now!
