Is a Leaking Air Conditioner Dangerous?

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

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

In most cases, you can stop your air conditioner from leaking by requesting yearly air conditioning maintenance. During your appointment, an HVAC tech will closely examine your system for issues and clean it. This service helps provide worry-free cooling and may even improve 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 byproduct of air conditioning. 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 goes out of your home through a condensate drain line.

Because of the condensation process, having water leak is a common problem. We regularly 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

Over time, mold can clog the condensate drain line. This can result in water leaking inside your house. Our Osceola Air, LLC pros can eliminate clogs and get water draining again smoothly. Give us a call at 407-954-8626 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 life span

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 checking your air filter if you haven’t changed it lately and your air conditioner is leaking water indoors.

If this doesn’t resolve the problem, your drain pan may be rusty or have a broken condensate pump. Getting a new pan or pump requires a pro, so call us at 407-954-8626 for help.

Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?

Your air conditioner relies on coolant to move heat. If your air conditioner was installed before 2011, it likely uses R-22 Freon. Over time, chemicals in Freon can eat away at metal and cause leaks.

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

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

Freon is bad for your health if handled improperly, so you’ll need an HVAC professional like Osceola Air, LLC to repair an air conditioner coolant leak. In most situations, it might just be better to request air conditioning installation since Freon is costly. Production of this coolant was halted in 2020 due to its damaging effects on the ozone layer. As a result, only reduced recycled quantities are available.

Trust Osceola Air, LLC for Repairing Your Air Conditioner Leaks

When it comes to air conditioning repair in St. Cloud, turn to the company your neighbors and friends depend on. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and reasonable services since 2014. Contact us at 407-954-8626 to schedule your appointment now!