When your air conditioner is working properly, your house will be cool and dry. A leaking air conditioner is annoying 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, repairing a leak will require professional air conditioning repair.
In most instances, you can prevent your air conditioner from leaking by requesting yearly air conditioning maintenance. During your appointment, an HVAC technician will closely examine your system for issues 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 Does My AC Unit Leak 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 occurs as the air cools, flows into a drain pan and goes out of your house through a condensate drain line.
Because of 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 Plugged
Over time, mold can block the condensate drain line. This can result in water backing up inside your house. Our Appalachian Heating professionals can break up clogs and get water draining again smoothly. Reach us at 304-877-5566 for help.
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
- Reducing 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 suggest inspecting your air filter if you haven’t changed it lately and your air conditioner is leaking water indoors.
If this doesn’t resolve the issue, your drain pan might be rusty or have a malfunctioning condensate pump. Replacing your pan or pump requires a pro, so call us at 304-877-5566 for help.
Why Does My AC Unit Leak Freon?
Your air conditioner relies on 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 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 seems warmer or more humid than normal
- Bubbling or hissing noises by the air conditioner
- Sweet odor by the air conditioner
- Frozen evaporator coil
Freon is bad for your health if handled improperly, so you’ll need an HVAC pro like Appalachian Heating to repair an air conditioner coolant leak. In many situations, it might just be better to schedule air conditioning installation since Freon is costly. Production of this coolant was halted in 2020 because of its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a result, just limited recycled quantities are available.
Rely on Appalachian Heating to Repair Your Leaky Air Conditioner
When it comes to air conditioning repair in Beckley, turn to the company your neighbors and friends trust. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and affordable services since year. Call us at 304-877-5566 to request your appointment today!
