When your air conditioner is running properly, your home will be cool and dry. A leaking air conditioner is frustrating but isn’t necessarily dangerous. 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 home. 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 prevent your air conditioner from leaking by requesting yearly air conditioning maintenance. During your appointment, an HVAC technician will closely examine your system for problems and clean it. This service helps ensure worry-free performance and might 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 the cooling process. 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 drains 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 leaking inside your house. Our Select Comfort Systems Heating & Air Conditioning pros can eliminate clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Reach us at 801-305-4777 for assistance.
Air Filter Is Dirty
We recommend replace 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
- Extending your air conditioner’s lifetime
A dirty air filter can restrict airflow, make the coil very cold and freeze it. As the coil melts, it can overwhelm the drain pan. 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 resolve the problem, your drain pan might be rusty or have a broken condensate pump. Replacing your pan or pump requires a professional, so contact us at 801-305-4777 for assistance.
Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?
Your air conditioner needs coolant to move 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 create leaks.
It’s good to know about air conditioner Freon leak symptoms in case your system has one. They include:
- Air that seems warmer or more humid than usual
- Bubbling or hissing noises 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 Select Comfort Systems Heating & Air Conditioning to fix an air conditioner coolant leak. In most situations, it may just be better to schedule air conditioning installation since Freon is expensive. Production 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.
Trust Select Comfort Systems Heating & Air Conditioning for Repairing Your Air Conditioner Leaks
When it comes to air conditioning repair in West Valley City, turn to the company your neighbors and friends trust. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and affordable services since 1996. Call us at 801-305-4777 to schedule your appointment today!