When your air conditioner is working properly, your home 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 refrigerant.

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 situation, repairing a leak will require skilled air conditioning repair.

In most cases, you can prevent your air conditioner from leaking by requesting yearly 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 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 result of air conditioning. 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 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 often get calls about an air conditioner leaking water inside or an air conditioner leaking water outside. Here’s why it occurs:

Drain Line Is Clogged

As time passes, mold can clog the condensate drain line. This can result in water backing up inside your home. Our Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating professionals can eliminate clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Reach us at 641-628-3621 for assistance.

Air Filter Is Dirty

We recommend changing 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 extremely cold and cause it to freeze. As the coil melts, 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 broken condensate pump. Replacing your pan or pump requires a professional, so call us at 641-628-3621 for assistance.

Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?

Your air conditioner uses coolant to transfer heat. If your air conditioner was installed before 2011, it likely 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 seems hotter or more humid than normal
  • Bubbling or hissing sounds near the air conditioner
  • Sweet smell near the air conditioner
  • Frozen evaporator coil

Freon is bad for your health if handled improperly, so you’ll want an HVAC pro like Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating to repair an air conditioner coolant leak. In many instances, it might just be better to request air conditioning installation since Freon is expensive. Production 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.

Contact Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating to Repair Your Leaky Air Conditioner

When it comes to air conditioning repair in Pella, turn to the company your neighbors and friends trust. We’ve been known for our fast, friendly and affordable services since {year}. Call us at 641-628-3621 to request your appointment today!