Is a Leaking Air Conditioner Dangerous?

August 13, 2021
A man with tool box in hand

When your air conditioner is running properly, your house 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 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, repairing a leak will require skilled air conditioning repair.

In most instances, you can prevent your air conditioner from leaking by requesting yearly air conditioning maintenance. During your appointment, an HVAC technician will closely inspect your system for problems and clean it. This service helps ensure worry-free performance and might even improve 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 the cooling process. 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 cool drips into a drain pan and goes out of your house through a condensate drain line.

Due to the condensation process, having water back up is a common problem. We often 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

As time passes, mold can clog the condensate drain line. This can result in water leaking inside your home. Our Winters Heating and Cooling pros can break up clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Reach us at 317-406-5382 for help.

Air Filter Is Dirty

We recommend changing flat filters once a month and pleated filters every three months.

Replacing your air filter is crucial for:

  • Indoor air quality
  • Energy efficiency
  • Reducing breakdowns
  • Lengthening your air conditioner’s lifetime

A dirty air filter can restrict airflow, make the coil very cold and cause it to freeze. As the coil melts, it can make the drain pan overflow. 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 fix 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 317-406-5382 for help.

Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?

Your air conditioner relies on coolant to move heat. If your air conditioner was put in before 2011, it likely uses R-22 Freon. Over time, chemicals in Freon can eat through 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 seems hotter or more humid than normal
  • Bubbling or hissing sounds by the air conditioner
  • Sweet odor near the air conditioner
  • Frozen evaporator coil

Freon is hazardous to your health if handled improperly, so you’ll need an HVAC professional like Winters 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 costly. Production of this coolant was stopped in 2020 because of its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a result, only reduced recycled quantities are available.

Rely on Winters Heating and Cooling for Repairing Your Air Conditioner Leaks

When it comes to air conditioning repair in Franklin & South Indy, turn to the company your neighbors and friends trust. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly, and reasonable services since 2019. Call us at 317-406-5382 to schedule your appointment today!