Is a Leaking Air Conditioner Dangerous?

August 13, 2021

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

Water leaking from your air conditioner isn’t bad but can cause a lot of damage to your home. In contrast, a coolant leak is dangerous for you and the environment. In either situation, repairing a leak will require skilled air conditioning repair.

In most instances, you can stop your air conditioner from leaking by requesting yearly air conditioning maintenance. During your appointment, an HVAC technician will closely check your system for issues and clean it. This service helps ensure worry-free cooling and may even boost energy efficiency.

Find out 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 occurs 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 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 happens:

Drain Line Is Clogged

Over time, mold can block the condensate drain line. This can lead to water leaking inside your house. Our Kapaun & Brown Inc. pros can eliminate clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Give us a call at 641-812-2028 for assistance.

Air Filter Is Dirty

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
  • Extending your air conditioner’s life span

A dirty air filter can reduce airflow, make the coil very 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 changed it lately and your air conditioner is leaking water indoors.

If this doesn’t fix the issue, your drain pan might be rusty or have a broken condensate pump. Getting a new pan or pump requires a professional, so contact us at 641-812-2028 for help.

Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?

Your air conditioner uses coolant to move heat. If your air conditioner was put in before 2011, it likely uses R-22 Freon. As time passes, chemicals in Freon can eat away at metal and create leaks.

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

  • Air that feels warmer or more humid than usual
  • Bubbling or hissing sounds 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 need an HVAC professional like Kapaun & Brown Inc. to fix 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 stopped in 2020 because of its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a result, only limited recycled quantities are available.

Rely on Kapaun & Brown Inc. for Fixing Your Air Conditioner Leaks

When it comes to air conditioning repair in Marshalltown, turn to the company your neighbors and friends trust. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and reasonable services since 1974. Call us at 641-812-2028 to schedule your appointment now!