When your air conditioner is working properly, your house 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 house. On the other hand, 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 annual air conditioning maintenance. During your appointment, an HVAC tech will closely examine your system for problems and clean it. This service helps ensure 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 Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Water?
Water is a natural result 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 moves over it. Condensation forms 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 leak 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 occurs:
Drain Line Is Clogged
Over time, mold can block the condensate drain line. This can lead to water leaking inside your home. Our Jett's Heating & Air Inc. pros can break up clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Reach us at 815-410-1128 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 critical for:
- Indoor air quality
- Energy efficiency
- Decreasing breakdowns
- Lengthening your air conditioner’s lifetime
A dirty air filter can reduce airflow, make the coil very cold and cause it to freeze. As the coil defrosts, it can overwhelm the drain pan. We suggest checking your air filter if you haven’t replaced 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 broken condensate pump. Replacing your pan or pump requires a professional, so call us at 815-410-1128 for help.
Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?
Your air conditioner needs coolant to transfer heat. If your air conditioner was installed before 2011, it likely has R-22 Freon. Over time, chemicals in Freon can eat away at metal and create leaks.
It’s important to know about air conditioner Freon leak symptoms in case your system develops one. They include:
- Air that feels hotter or more humid than normal
- Bubbling or hissing sounds by the air conditioner
- Sweet smell by the air conditioner
- Frozen evaporator coil
Freon is bad for your health if handled improperly, so you’ll need an HVAC pro like Jett's Heating & Air Inc. to repair an air conditioner coolant leak. In most situations, 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 damaging effects on the ozone layer. As a result, only reduced recycled quantities are available.
Rely on Jett's Heating & Air Inc. for Repairing Your Air Conditioner Leaks
When it comes to air conditioning repair in McHenry, go with the company your neighbors and friends depend on. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and reasonable services since 2004. Call us at 815-410-1128 to schedule your appointment now!