When your air conditioner is running 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 dangerous but can cause a lot of damage to your house. In contrast, a coolant leak is harmful to you and the environment. In either case, repairing a leak will require professional air conditioning repair.
In most cases, you can prevent your air conditioner from leaking by scheduling 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 might even improve energy efficiency.
Find out 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 byproduct 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 moves 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 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 block the condensate drain line. This can lead to water leaking inside your house. Our Clean Air HVAC professionals can eliminate clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Give us a call at 925-233-6238 for help.
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
- Decreasing breakdowns
- Extending your air conditioner’s life span
A dirty air filter can restrict airflow, make the coil extremely cold and freeze it. 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 resolve the problem, your drain pan might be rusty or have a malfunctioning condensate pump. Getting a new pan or pump requires a pro, so contact us at 925-233-6238 for assistance.
Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?
Your air conditioner uses coolant to transfer heat. If your air conditioner was put in before 2011, it likely uses 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 the event your system develops one. They include:
- Air that feels hotter or more humid than usual
- Bubbling or hissing noises near the air conditioner
- Sweet smell by the air conditioner
- Frozen evaporator coil
Freon is bad for your health if handled improperly, so you’ll want an HVAC pro like Clean Air HVAC to fix an air conditioner coolant leak. In most situations, it may just be better to request air conditioning installation since Freon is expensive. Manufacturing of this coolant was stopped in 2020 because of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. As a result, just limited recycled quantities are available.
Trust Clean Air HVAC for Fixing Your Air Conditioner Leaks
When it comes to air conditioning repair in Pacheco, go with the company your neighbors and friends depend on. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and reasonable services since 2004. Contact us at 925-233-6238 to request your appointment today!