When your air conditioner is running 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 coolant.
Water leaking from your air conditioner isn’t dangerous but can cause a lot of damage to your home. In contrast, a coolant leak is harmful to you and the environment. In either situation, fixing a leak will require professional air conditioning repair.
In most cases, you can stop 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 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 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, drips into a drain pan and drains out of your home through a condensate drain line.
Because of the condensation process, having water back up 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 backing up inside your home. Our Siloam Springs Heating & AC professionals can eliminate clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Reach us at 479-308-8176 for help.
Air Filter Needs to Be Changed
We recommend replace flat filters monthly and pleated filters every three months.
Replacing your air filter is critical for:
- Indoor air quality
- Energy efficiency
- Decreasing breakdowns
- Extending 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 overwhelm the drain pan. We recommend checking your air filter if you haven’t changed 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 malfunctioning condensate pump. Replacing your pan or pump requires a pro, so contact us at 479-308-8176 for help.
Why Does My AC Unit Leak Freon?
Your air conditioner uses coolant to move heat. If your air conditioner was put in before 2011, it likely uses R-22 Freon. As time passes, chemicals in Freon can eat through metal and create leaks.
It’s good to know about air conditioner Freon leak symptoms in the event your system has one. They include:
- Air that feels warmer 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 need an HVAC pro like Siloam Springs Heating & AC to fix an air conditioner coolant leak. In many instances, it might just be better to schedule air conditioning installation since Freon is costly. Manufacturing of this coolant was stopped in 2020 due to its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a result, just limited recycled quantities are available.
Trust Siloam Springs Heating & AC for Repairing Your Air Conditioner Leaks
When it comes to air conditioning repair in Siloam Springs, go with the company your neighbors and friends depend on. We’ve been known for our fast, friendly and affordable services since year. Call us at 479-308-8176 to request your appointment today!