When your air conditioner is running properly, your house 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 dangerous but can cause a lot of damage to your house. In contrast, a coolant leak is dangerous for you and the environment. In either case, repairing a leak will require professional air conditioning repair.

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

Find out 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 byproduct of the cooling process. Your air conditioner has two units, one outside and one inside. The indoor unit includes an evaporator coil that cools warm air as it moves over it. Condensation forms as the air cools, drips into a drain pan and drains out of your house through a condensate drain line.

Due to 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 leaking inside your home. Our Fire & Ice HVAC professionals can eliminate clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Reach us at 703-595-4157 for assistance.

Air Filter Is Dirty

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 lifetime

A dirty air filter can restrict airflow, make the coil very cold and freeze it. As the coil melts, it can overwhelm the drain pan. 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 problem, your drain pan may be rusty or have a broken condensate pump. Replacing your pan or pump requires a professional, so contact us at 703-595-4157 for assistance.

Why Won’t My Air Conditioning Stop Leaking Freon?

Your air conditioner needs coolant to transfer 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 the event your system has one. They include:

  • Air that feels warmer or more humid than normal
  • Bubbling or hissing noises by the air conditioner
  • Sweet smell by the air conditioner
  • Frozen evaporator coil

Freon is bad for your health if handled improperly, so you’ll need an HVAC professional like Fire & Ice HVAC 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 because of its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a result, just limited recycled quantities are available.

Contact Fire & Ice HVAC for Fixing Your Air Conditioner Leaks

When it comes to air conditioning repair in Manassas, go with the company your neighbors and friends depend on. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and reasonable services since year. Contact us at 703-595-4157 to schedule your appointment now!