When your air conditioner is running properly, your house will be cool and dry. A leaking air conditioner is annoying but isn’t necessarily harmful. 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. In contrast, 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 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 ensure worry-free cooling 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 systems, 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 home through a condensate drain line.
Because of 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 occurs:
Drain Line Is Plugged
Over time, mold can clog the condensate drain line. This can result in water backing up inside your house. Our Gilray Heating and Cooling pros can eliminate clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Give us a call at 715-301-0727 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
- Reducing breakdowns
- Extending your air conditioner’s lifetime
A dirty air filter can restrict airflow, make the coil extremely 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 replaced it lately and your air conditioner is leaking water indoors.
If this doesn’t resolve the issue, your drain pan might be rusty or have a malfunctioning condensate pump. Replacing your pan or pump requires a professional, so contact us at 715-301-0727 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 likely has R-22 Freon. Over time, 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 develops one. They include:
- Air that feels warmer or more humid than usual
- Bubbling or hissing sounds near the air conditioner
- Sweet odor by the air conditioner
- Frozen evaporator coil
Freon is bad for your health if handled improperly, so you’ll want an HVAC professional like Gilray Heating and Cooling to fix an air conditioner coolant leak. In many instances, it might just be better to schedule air conditioning installation since Freon is expensive. Manufacturing of this coolant was halted in 2020 because of its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a result, just limited recycled quantities are available.
Rely on Gilray Heating and Cooling for Fixing Your Air Conditioner Leaks
When it comes to air conditioning repair in Wausau, go with the company your neighbors and friends trust. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and reasonable services since 1981. Contact us at 715-301-0727 to schedule your appointment now!