Is A Leak in My Air Conditioning Dangerous?

When your air conditioner is running properly, your house 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 house. In contrast, a coolant leak is dangerous for you and the environment. In either case, repairing a leak will require skilled air conditioning repair.

In most instances, you can stop your air conditioner from leaking by requesting annual air conditioning maintenance. During your appointment, an HVAC technician will closely examine your system for problems 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 stop it from happening in the future.

Why Does My AC Unit Leak 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 blows 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 leak 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

Over time, mold can block the condensate drain line. This can result in water leaking inside your home. Our Schraer Heating & Air Conditioning professionals can eliminate clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Reach us at 636-456-5041 for help.

Air Filter Is Dirty

We recommend replace flat filters monthly and pleated filters every three months.

Replacing your air filter is crucial 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 overwhelm the drain pan. We suggest 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 problem, your drain pan might be rusty or have a malfunctioning condensate pump. Getting a new pan or pump requires a professional, so call us at 636-456-5041 for assistance.

Why Is the Air Conditioning Leaking Freon?

Your air conditioner relies on coolant to move heat. If your air conditioner was installed before 2011, it probably uses R-22 Freon. As time passes, chemicals in Freon can eat away at metal and cause leaks.

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

• Air that feels hotter 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 need an HVAC professional like Schraer Heating & Air Conditioning to repair an air conditioner coolant leak. In many instances, it may just be better to request air conditioning installation since Freon is expensive. Manufacturing of this coolant was halted in 2020 due to its damaging effects on the ozone layer. As a result, only reduced recycled quantities are available.

Trust Schraer Heating & Air Conditioning for Fixing Your Air Conditioner Leaks

When it comes to air conditioning repair in Warrenton, turn to the company your neighbors and friends trust. We’ve been known for our fast, friendly and reasonable services since {year}. Call us at 636-456-5041 to request your appointment today!