When your air conditioner is running 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 coolant.
Water leaking from your air conditioner isn’t dangerous but can cause a lot of damage to your home. On the other hand, a coolant leak is harmful to you and the environment. In either situation, fixing 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 check your system for problems and clean it. This service helps ensure worry-free performance 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 result of air conditioning. Your air conditioner has two units, one outside and one inside. The indoor unit has 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 home through a condensate drain line.
Because of the condensation process, having water back up 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 occurs:
Drain Line Is Clogged
As time passes, mold can clog the condensate drain line. This can lead to water backing up inside your home. Our Precision Mechanical pros can break up clogs and get water draining again smoothly. Give us a call at 605-206-3766 for help.
Air Filter Is Dirty
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
- Reducing breakdowns
- Extending your air conditioner’s lifetime
A dirty air filter can restrict airflow, make the coil very cold and cause it to freeze. As the coil melts, it can make the drain pan overflow. We recommend 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 issue, your drain pan might be rusty or have a broken condensate pump. Replacing your pan or pump requires a professional, so call us at 605-206-3766 for help.
Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?
Your air conditioner relies on coolant to transfer heat. If your air conditioner was installed before 2011, it likely uses R-22 Freon. Over time, chemicals in Freon can eat through metal and cause leaks.
It’s good to know about air conditioner Freon leak symptoms in the event your system has one. They include:
- Air that feels warmer or more humid than usual
- 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 schedule air conditioning installation since Freon is costly. Manufacturing of this coolant was stopped in 2020 because of its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a result, only limited recycled quantities are available.
Rely on Precision Mechanical for Fixing Your Air Conditioner Leaks
When it comes to air conditioning repair in Rapid City, go with the company your neighbors and friends depend on. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and affordable services since 2006. Call us at 605-206-3766 to request your appointment today!