When your air conditioner is working properly, your home 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 bad 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 case, fixing a leak will require skilled air conditioning repair.

In most cases, 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 performance and might even improve energy efficiency.

Learn more about why your air conditioner is leaking and how you can stop 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 includes an evaporator coil that cools warm air as it blows over it. Condensation forms as the air cools, flows 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 receive 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 home. Our James Heating & A/C, Inc pros can break up clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Give us a call at 336-853-6070 for help.

Air Filter Needs to Be Changed

We recommend replace flat filters once a month and pleated filters every three months.

Replacing your air filter is critical for:

  • Indoor air quality
  • Energy efficiency
  • Decreasing breakdowns
  • Extending your air conditioner’s lifetime

A dirty air filter can reduce airflow, make the coil extremely 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 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. Replacing your pan or pump requires a professional, so contact us at 336-853-6070 for assistance.

Why Is the Air Conditioning Leaking Freon?

Your air conditioner needs coolant to move heat. If your air conditioner was installed before 2011, it likely has R-22 Freon. As time passes, chemicals in Freon can eat away at metal and cause leaks.

It’s important to know about air conditioner Freon leak symptoms in case your system develops one. They include:

  • Air that seems warmer or more humid than usual
  • Bubbling or hissing sounds by the air conditioner
  • Sweet odor by the air conditioner
  • Frozen evaporator coil

Freon is hazardous to your health if handled improperly, so you’ll want an HVAC professional like James Heating & A/C, Inc to repair 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.

Contact James Heating & A/C, Inc for Fixing Your Leaky Air Conditioner

When it comes to air conditioning repair in Lexington, go with the company your neighbors and friends depend on. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and affordable services since {year}. Contact us at 336-853-6070 to schedule your appointment today!