When your air conditioner is running 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 house. In contrast, a coolant leak is dangerous for you and the environment. In either case, fixing a leak will require professional air conditioning repair.
In most instances, 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 ensure 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 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 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 house through a condensate drain line.
Due to 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 Clogged
As time passes, mold can clog the condensate drain line. This can lead to water backing up inside your house. Our Olde Towne Heating & Air pros can eliminate clogs and get water draining again smoothly. Reach us at 843-485-0967 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
- Lengthening your air conditioner’s life span
A dirty air filter can restrict airflow, make the coil extremely cold and cause it to freeze. As the coil defrosts, it can overwhelm the drain pan. We recommend inspecting your air filter if you haven’t changed it lately and your air conditioner is leaking water indoors.
If this doesn’t fix the problem, 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 843-485-0967 for assistance.
Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?
Your air conditioner uses coolant to transfer heat. If your air conditioner was installed before 2011, it likely uses R-22 Freon. As time passes, 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 near the air conditioner
- Sweet smell near the air conditioner
- Frozen evaporator coil
Freon is bad for your health if handled improperly, so you’ll want an HVAC pro like Olde Towne Heating & Air to repair an air conditioner coolant leak. In many situations, it might just be better to request air conditioning installation since Freon is expensive. Manufacturing of this coolant was stopped in 2020 due to its damaging effects on the ozone layer. As a result, just reduced recycled quantities are available.
Rely on Olde Towne Heating & Air for Repairing Your Air Conditioner Leaks
When it comes to air conditioning repair in Mount Pleasant, turn to the company your neighbors and friends trust. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and affordable services since 2009. Call us at 843-485-0967 to request your appointment today!