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 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 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 technician will closely examine 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 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, 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 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 Plugged
As time passes, mold can block the condensate drain line. This can lead to water leaking inside your house. Our Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling pros can break up clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Reach us at 515-207-6569 for assistance.
Air Filter Needs to Be Changed
We recommend changing 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 lifetime
A dirty air filter can reduce airflow, make the coil extremely cold and freeze it. As the coil melts, it can make the drain pan overflow. We recommend inspecting your air filter if you haven’t replaced it lately and your air conditioner is leaking water indoors.
If this doesn’t resolve the problem, your drain pan may be rusty or have a malfunctioning condensate pump. Getting a new pan or pump requires a professional, so contact us at 515-207-6569 for help.
Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?
Your air conditioner relies on coolant to move heat. If your air conditioner was put in before 2011, it probably has R-22 Freon. As time passes, chemicals in Freon can eat away at 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 seems warmer or more humid than usual
- Bubbling or hissing noises near the air conditioner
- Sweet smell by the air conditioner
- Frozen evaporator coil
Freon is hazardous to your health if handled improperly, so you’ll want an HVAC pro like Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling to fix an air conditioner coolant leak. In most situations, it may just be better to schedule air conditioning installation since Freon is expensive. Manufacturing of this coolant was stopped in 2020 because of its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a result, just reduced recycled quantities are available.
Rely on Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling for Repairing Your Air Conditioner Leaks
When it comes to air conditioning repair in Des Moines, go with the company your neighbors and friends trust. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and affordable services since 1945. Contact us at 515-207-6569 to schedule your appointment today!