When your air conditioner is working properly, your home will be cool and dry. A leaking air conditioner is annoying but isn’t necessarily harmful. It depends on whether it’s leaking water or coolant.
Water leaking from your air conditioner isn’t bad but can cause a lot of damage to your house. In contrast, a coolant leak is harmful to you and the environment. In either situation, fixing a leak will require skilled air conditioning repair.
In most instances, you can stop your air conditioner from leaking by scheduling yearly air conditioning maintenance. During your appointment, an HVAC technician will closely check your system for problems and clean it. This service helps ensure worry-free cooling and may 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 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 moves over it. Condensation occurs 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 regularly 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
Over time, mold can clog the condensate drain line. This can lead to water backing up inside your home. Our James Heating & A/C, Inc pros can break up clogs and get water draining again smoothly. Give us a call at 336-853-6070 for assistance.
Air Filter Is Dirty
We recommend changing flat filters once a month 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 checking your air filter if you haven’t changed it lately and your air conditioner is leaking water indoors.
If this doesn’t resolve the problem, your drain pan may be rusty or have a malfunctioning condensate pump. Getting a new pan or pump requires a pro, so contact us at 336-853-6070 for assistance.
Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?
Your air conditioner needs coolant to transfer 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 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 sounds 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 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 costly. Production of this coolant was stopped in 2020 due to its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a result, just reduced recycled quantities are available.
Rely on James Heating & A/C, Inc for Repairing Your Air Conditioner Leaks
When it comes to air conditioning repair in Lexington, go with the company your neighbors and friends trust. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and reasonable services since 1967. Contact us at 336-853-6070 to request your appointment today!