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 refrigerant.

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, repairing a leak will require skilled air conditioning repair.

In most instances, you can prevent your air conditioner from leaking by requesting yearly air conditioning maintenance. During your appointment, an HVAC technician will closely inspect your system for problems and clean it. This service helps ensure worry-free cooling and might even boost energy efficiency.

Find out 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 units, 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 drains out of your house through a condensate drain line.

Due to the condensation process, having water leak is a common problem. We often get 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 house. Our Precision Mechanical pros can eliminate clogs and get water draining again smoothly. Reach us at 605-206-3766 for help.

Air Filter Is Dirty

We recommend replace flat filters monthly and pleated filters every three months.

Replacing your air filter is crucial for:

  • Indoor air quality
  • Energy efficiency
  • Reducing breakdowns
  • Lengthening your air conditioner’s life span

A dirty air filter can reduce airflow, make the coil extremely cold and freeze it. As the coil melts, it can make the drain pan overflow. We recommend checking your air filter if you haven’t replaced it lately and your air conditioner is leaking water indoors.

If this doesn’t resolve the issue, your drain pan may be rusty or have a malfunctioning condensate pump. Getting a new pan or pump requires a pro, so call us at 605-206-3766 for assistance.

Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?

Your air conditioner uses coolant to move heat. If your air conditioner was put in 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 case your system develops one. They include:

  • Air that seems hotter or more humid than normal
  • Bubbling or hissing sounds near 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 pro like Precision Mechanical to repair an air conditioner coolant leak. In most instances, it might just be better to request air conditioning installation since Freon is costly. Production of this coolant was halted in 2020 because of its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a result, only reduced recycled quantities are available.

Trust Precision Mechanical to Repair Your Air Conditioner Leaks

When it comes to air conditioning repair in Rapid City, turn to the company your neighbors and friends depend on. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and affordable services since {year}. Contact us at 605-206-3766 to schedule your appointment today!