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 dangerous but can cause a lot of damage to your house. In contrast, a coolant leak is harmful to you and the environment. In either case, repairing a leak will require skilled air conditioning repair.

In most instances, you can prevent 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 provide worry-free cooling and may even improve energy efficiency.

Find out 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 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, drips into a drain pan and goes 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

As time passes, mold can block the condensate drain line. This can result in water backing up inside your home. Our H&C Heating and Cooling professionals can break up clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Reach us at 301-960-3247 for assistance.

Air Filter Needs to Be Changed

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
  • Extending your air conditioner’s life span

A dirty air filter can restrict airflow, make the coil very cold and freeze it. As the coil melts, it can overwhelm the drain pan. We recommend inspecting your air filter if you haven’t changed it lately and your air conditioner is leaking water indoors.

If this doesn’t resolve the issue, your drain pan may be rusty or have a malfunctioning condensate pump. Replacing your pan or pump requires a professional, so call us at 301-960-3247 for assistance.

Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?

Your air conditioner needs coolant to move heat. If your air conditioner was installed before 2011, it probably has R-22 Freon. Over time, chemicals in Freon can eat through metal and cause leaks.

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

  • Air that feels hotter or more humid than usual
  • Bubbling or hissing noises near the air conditioner
  • Sweet odor by the air conditioner
  • Frozen evaporator coil

Freon is hazardous to your health if handled improperly, so you’ll want an HVAC professional like H&C Heating and Cooling to repair an air conditioner coolant leak. In many instances, it may just be better to schedule air conditioning installation since Freon is costly. Production of this coolant was stopped in 2020 because of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. As a result, just reduced recycled quantities are available.

Rely on H&C Heating and Cooling to Repair Your Leaky Air Conditioner

When it comes to air conditioning repair in Laurel, turn to the company your neighbors and friends depend on. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and reasonable services since {year}. Call us at 301-960-3247 to schedule your appointment today!