When your air conditioner is running properly, your home 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 house. In contrast, a coolant leak is dangerous for you and the environment. In either situation, fixing 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 performance and might 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 Does My AC Unit Leak Water?
Water is a natural byproduct 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 moves over it. Condensation occurs as the air cools, drips into a drain pan and drains out of your home through a condensate drain line.
Because of 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
As time passes, mold can clog the condensate drain line. This can result in water leaking inside your house. Our Airtech Cooling & Heating professionals can break up clogs and get water draining again smoothly. Reach us at 941-377-7956 for help.
Air Filter Is Dirty
We recommend changing flat filters monthly 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 life span
A dirty air filter can restrict airflow, make the coil very cold and freeze it. As the coil defrosts, it can overwhelm the drain pan. We suggest checking your air filter if you haven’t replaced it lately and your air conditioner is leaking water indoors.
If this doesn’t fix the issue, your drain pan might be rusty or have a broken condensate pump. Getting a new pan or pump requires a professional, so call us at 941-377-7956 for help.
Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?
Your air conditioner uses coolant to move 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 cause leaks.
It’s good to know about air conditioner Freon leak symptoms in the event your system has one. They include:
- Air that seems warmer or more humid than normal
- Bubbling or hissing noises near the air conditioner
- Sweet smell by the air conditioner
- Frozen evaporator coil
Freon is hazardous to your health if handled improperly, so you’ll need an HVAC professional like Airtech Cooling & Heating to fix an air conditioner coolant leak. In many situations, it might just be better to schedule 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, only limited recycled quantities are available.
Trust Airtech Cooling & Heating for Repairing Your Air Conditioner Leaks
When it comes to air conditioning repair in Sarasota, go with the company your neighbors and friends depend on. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and reasonable services since year. Call us at 941-377-7956 to schedule your appointment today!