When your air conditioner is running properly, your house 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 refrigerant.
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, repairing a leak will require professional 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 issues and clean it. This service helps provide worry-free cooling and may even improve 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 byproduct 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 blows over it. Condensation forms as the air cools, drips 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 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 Plugged
As time passes, mold can block the condensate drain line. This can result in water leaking inside your house. Our Rapids Sheet Metal Works Inc professionals can eliminate clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Give us a call at 715-301-0256 for help.
Air Filter Needs to Be Changed
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
- Reducing breakdowns
- Extending your air conditioner’s life span
A dirty air filter can reduce airflow, make the coil very 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 fix the problem, 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 715-301-0256 for help.
Why Is the Air Conditioning Leaking Freon?
Your air conditioner uses coolant to transfer heat. If your air conditioner was installed before 2011, it probably 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 case your system develops one. They include:
- Air that feels hotter or more humid than normal
- Bubbling or hissing sounds near the air conditioner
- Sweet odor near the air conditioner
- Frozen evaporator coil
Freon is hazardous to your health if handled improperly, so you’ll need an HVAC professional like Rapids Sheet Metal Works Inc to repair 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 halted in 2020 because of its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a result, only reduced recycled quantities are available.
Contact Rapids Sheet Metal Works Inc for Fixing Your Leaky Air Conditioner
When it comes to air conditioning repair in Wisconsin Rapids, turn to the company your neighbors and friends trust. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and reasonable services since {year}. Call us at 715-301-0256 to schedule your appointment today!