When your air conditioner is working 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 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, repairing a leak will require professional air conditioning repair.
In most instances, you can prevent your air conditioner from leaking by scheduling annual 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.
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 occurs 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 regularly receive 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 clog the condensate drain line. This can result in water leaking inside your house. Our Tri City Fuel & Heating pros can break up clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Give us a call at 803-265-4208 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 crucial for:
- Indoor air quality
- Energy efficiency
- Reducing breakdowns
- Lengthening 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 melts, 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 may be rusty or have a malfunctioning condensate pump. Replacing your pan or pump requires a professional, so contact us at 803-265-4208 for assistance.
Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?
Your air conditioner relies on coolant to move heat. If your air conditioner was installed before 2011, it probably has R-22 Freon. Over time, chemicals in Freon can eat through metal and create leaks.
It’s good to know about air conditioner Freon leak symptoms in case your system has one. They include:
- Air that feels warmer 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 professional like Tri City Fuel & Heating to repair an air conditioner coolant leak. In many instances, it may just be better to request air conditioning installation since Freon is costly. Production 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.
Trust Tri City Fuel & Heating for Fixing Your Air Conditioner Leaks
When it comes to air conditioning repair in West Columbia, go with the company your neighbors and friends depend on. We’ve been known for our fast, friendly and reasonable services since {year}. Call us at 803-265-4208 to request your appointment today!
