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 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 dangerous for 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 annual air conditioning maintenance. During your appointment, an HVAC tech will closely inspect your system for problems and clean it. This service helps ensure worry-free performance and may even boost 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 air conditioning. Your air conditioner has two units, one outside and one inside. The indoor unit includes an evaporator coil that cools warm air as it blows over it. Condensation occurs as the air cools, drips 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 happens:
Drain Line Is Clogged
Over time, mold can block the condensate drain line. This can lead to water backing up inside your house. Our Lakeside Heating & Air professionals can eliminate clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Give us a call at 509-284-4265 for assistance.
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
- Extending your air conditioner’s life span
A dirty air filter can reduce airflow, make the coil very cold and cause it to freeze. As the coil defrosts, it can overwhelm the drain pan. We suggest 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 broken condensate pump. Getting a new pan or pump requires a professional, so contact us at 509-284-4265 for help.
Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?
Your air conditioner needs coolant to transfer heat. If your air conditioner was put in before 2011, it probably has R-22 Freon. Over time, chemicals in Freon can eat through metal and cause leaks.
It’s important to know about air conditioner Freon leak symptoms in case your system develops one. They include:
- Air that feels hotter or more humid than usual
- Bubbling or hissing sounds by the air conditioner
- Sweet smell near the air conditioner
- Frozen evaporator coil
Freon is bad for your health if handled improperly, so you’ll need an HVAC pro like Lakeside Heating & Air to fix an air conditioner coolant leak. In many situations, it may just be better to request 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 reduced recycled quantities are available.
Rely on Lakeside Heating & Air for Repairing Your Air Conditioner Leaks
When it comes to air conditioning repair in Chelan and Wenatchee, go with the company your neighbors and friends trust. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and reasonable services since 2001. Call us at 509-284-4265 to request your appointment today!