When your air conditioner is running properly, your house will be cool and dry. A leaking air conditioner is annoying but isn’t necessarily dangerous. 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 dangerous for you and the environment. In either situation, repairing a leak will require professional air conditioning repair.

In most cases, you can prevent your air conditioner from leaking by requesting yearly air conditioning maintenance. During your appointment, an HVAC tech will closely check your system for issues and clean it. This service helps provide 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 Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Water?

Water is a natural byproduct of the cooling process. Your air conditioner has two systems, one outside and one inside. The indoor unit includes an evaporator coil that cools warm air as it blows over it. Condensation forms as the air cools, flows into a drain pan and goes out of your house through a condensate drain line.

Because of 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 occurs:

Drain Line Is Clogged

As time passes, mold can block the condensate drain line. This can result in water leaking inside your house. Our Heartland Heating & Cooling pros can eliminate clogs and get water draining again smoothly. Reach us at 515-344-3579 for help.

Air Filter Is Dirty

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
  • Decreasing breakdowns
  • Lengthening 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 defrosts, it can make the drain pan overflow. We recommend inspecting your air filter if you haven’t changed it lately and your air conditioner is leaking water indoors.

If this doesn’t fix 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 515-344-3579 for assistance.

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 has R-22 Freon. Over time, chemicals in Freon can eat away at metal and create leaks.

It’s important to know about air conditioner Freon leak symptoms in case your system has one. They include:

  • Air that seems hotter or more humid than normal
  • Bubbling or hissing noises near 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 professional like Heartland Heating & Cooling to fix an air conditioner coolant leak. In many situations, it might just be better to schedule air conditioning installation since Freon is costly. Manufacturing of this coolant was halted in 2020 because of its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a result, just limited recycled quantities are available.

Trust Heartland Heating & Cooling for Fixing Your Air Conditioner Leaks

When it comes to air conditioning repair in Des Moines, turn to the company your neighbors and friends trust. We’ve been known for our fast, friendly and affordable services since {year}. Contact us at 515-344-3579 to request your appointment today!