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

Water leaking from your air conditioner isn’t bad 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, fixing a leak will require skilled air conditioning repair.

In most cases, you can prevent your air conditioner from leaking by scheduling yearly 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 may 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 air conditioning. 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 forms as the air cools, drips 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 receive 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 leaking inside your house. Our Walter's-Eaton's Electric, Plumbing, Heating & AC professionals can break up clogs and get water draining again smoothly. Give us a call at 715-318-6728 for assistance.

Air Filter Needs to Be Changed

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
  • Reducing breakdowns
  • Lengthening your air conditioner’s lifetime

A dirty air filter can reduce airflow, make the coil extremely cold and cause it to freeze. As the coil melts, it can make the drain pan overflow. 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 715-318-6728 for assistance.

Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?

Your air conditioner uses coolant to transfer heat. If your air conditioner was put in before 2011, it probably has R-22 Freon. As time passes, 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 has one. They include:

  • Air that feels hotter or more humid than normal
  • Bubbling or hissing sounds 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 want an HVAC professional like Walter's-Eaton's Electric, Plumbing, Heating & AC to fix an air conditioner coolant leak. In many situations, it might just be better to request air conditioning installation since Freon is costly. Production of this coolant was stopped in 2020 because of its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a result, only limited recycled quantities are available.

Trust Walter's-Eaton's Electric, Plumbing, Heating & AC for Fixing Your Air Conditioner Leaks

When it comes to air conditioning repair in Ellsworth, turn to the company your neighbors and friends trust. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and reasonable services since {year}. Call us at 715-318-6728 to request your appointment now!