When your air conditioner is working 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 refrigerant.
Water leaking from your air conditioner isn’t dangerous but can cause a lot of damage to your house. On the other hand, a coolant leak is harmful to you and the environment. In either case, fixing a leak will require skilled air conditioning repair.
In most instances, you can stop your air conditioner from leaking by requesting yearly air conditioning maintenance. During your appointment, an HVAC tech will closely check your system for problems and clean it. This service helps ensure 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 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 occurs as the air cools, flows into a drain pan and goes out of your house through a condensate drain line.
Due to 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 Plugged
As time passes, mold can clog the condensate drain line. This can lead to water backing up inside your home. Our Heartland Heating & Cooling pros can break up clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Give us a call at 515-344-3579 for help.
Air Filter Needs to Be Changed
We recommend changing flat filters monthly and pleated filters every three months.
Replacing your air filter is crucial for:
- Indoor air quality
- Energy efficiency
- Reducing breakdowns
- Extending your air conditioner’s lifetime
A dirty air filter can reduce airflow, make the coil extremely cold and cause it to freeze. As the coil defrosts, 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 fix the problem, your drain pan might be rusty or have a broken condensate pump. Replacing your pan or pump requires a professional, so call us at 515-344-3579 for assistance.
Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?
Your air conditioner needs coolant to transfer heat. If your air conditioner was installed before 2011, it probably uses R-22 Freon. As time passes, chemicals in Freon can eat through metal and create 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 sounds near the air conditioner
- Sweet smell near the air conditioner
- Frozen evaporator coil
Freon is hazardous to your health if handled improperly, so you’ll want an HVAC professional like Heartland Heating & Cooling to fix an air conditioner coolant leak. In most instances, it might just be better to request air conditioning installation since Freon is expensive. Manufacturing of this coolant was halted in 2020 due to its damaging effects on the ozone layer. As a result, only limited recycled quantities are available.
Trust Heartland Heating & Cooling for Repairing Your Air Conditioner Leaks
When it comes to air conditioning repair in Des Moines, turn to the company your neighbors and friends depend on. We’ve been known for our fast, friendly and affordable services since 2003. Contact us at 515-344-3579 to schedule your appointment now!