Is a Leaking Air Conditioner Dangerous?

August 13, 2021

When your air conditioner is working properly, your house will be cool and dry. A leaking air conditioner is annoying but isn’t necessarily dangerous. It depends on whether it’s leaking water or coolant.

Water leaking from your air conditioner isn’t dangerous but can cause a lot of damage to your house. On the other hand, a coolant leak is dangerous for 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 scheduling annual air conditioning maintenance. During your appointment, an HVAC tech will closely check your system for problems and clean it. This service helps provide 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 byproduct of the cooling process. 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 often get calls about an air conditioner leaking water inside or an air conditioner leaking water outside. Here’s why it happens:

Drain Line Is Clogged

As time passes, mold can block the condensate drain line. This can result in water backing up inside your home. Our Temperature Doctors Heating & Cooling, Inc pros can break up clogs and get water draining again smoothly. Give us a call at (815)914-6197 for help.

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
  • Decreasing 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 defrosts, it can overwhelm the drain pan. We suggest inspecting 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. Getting a new pan or pump requires a pro, so contact us at (815)914-6197 for assistance.

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 has R-22 Freon. Over time, 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 develops one. They include:

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

Freon is bad for your health if handled improperly, so you’ll want an HVAC professional like Temperature Doctors Heating & Cooling, Inc 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 halted in 2020 because of its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a result, only reduced recycled quantities are available.

Trust Temperature Doctors Heating & Cooling, Inc for Fixing Your Air Conditioner Leaks

When it comes to air conditioning repair in Rockford, go with the company your neighbors and friends depend on. We’ve been known for our fast, friendly and reasonable services since 2006. Call us at (815)914-6197 to request your appointment now!