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. In contrast, a coolant leak is harmful to you and the environment. In either situation, fixing a leak will require professional air conditioning repair.
In most instances, you can stop your air conditioner from leaking by scheduling yearly air conditioning maintenance. During your appointment, an HVAC technician will closely check your system for problems and clean it. This service helps ensure worry-free performance and might 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 the Air Conditioning Leaking Water?
Water is a natural byproduct 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 moves over it. Condensation occurs as the air cools, flows into a drain pan and drains out of your house through a condensate drain line.
Because of the condensation process, having water leak 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 Plugged
As time passes, mold can block the condensate drain line. This can result in water leaking inside your home. Our Three Rivers Heating and Cooling professionals can break up clogs and get water draining again smoothly. Give us a call at (503) 739-5400 for help.
Air Filter Needs to Be Changed
We recommend changing flat filters monthly 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 life span
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 suggest 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 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 (503) 739-5400 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. 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 case your system has one. They include:
- Air that feels hotter or more humid than normal
- Bubbling or hissing sounds near the air conditioner
- Sweet odor near the air conditioner
- Frozen evaporator coil
Freon is hazardous to your health if handled improperly, so you’ll want an HVAC professional like Three Rivers Heating and Cooling to repair an air conditioner coolant leak. In many situations, it may just be better to request air conditioning installation since Freon is expensive. Manufacturing of this coolant was stopped in 2020 due to its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a result, just limited recycled quantities are available.
Contact Three Rivers Heating and Cooling to Fix Your Air Conditioner Leaks
When it comes to air conditioning repair in Portland, go with the company your neighbors and friends trust. We’ve been known for our fast, friendly and affordable services since {year}. Call us at (503) 739-5400 to schedule your appointment now!