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 frustrating but isn’t necessarily harmful. 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 harmful to you and the environment. In either case, repairing a leak will require professional air conditioning repair.

In most cases, you can prevent your air conditioner from leaking by scheduling yearly air conditioning maintenance. During your appointment, an HVAC tech will closely check your system for issues and clean it. This service helps provide worry-free cooling and might even boost 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 systems, 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, flows into a drain pan and goes out of your house through a condensate drain line.

Due to the condensation process, having water back up is a common problem. We often 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 clog the condensate drain line. This can result in water backing up inside your home. Our Franklin's Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc pros can eliminate clogs and get water draining again smoothly. Give us a call at 662-281-1231 for help.

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
  • Reducing breakdowns
  • Extending 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 melts, it can overwhelm the drain pan. We recommend 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 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 662-281-1231 for assistance.

Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?

Your air conditioner relies on coolant to transfer heat. If your air conditioner was installed before 2011, it probably has R-22 Freon. As time passes, chemicals in Freon can eat through metal and cause leaks.

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

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

Freon is bad for your health if handled improperly, so you’ll want an HVAC professional like Franklin's Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc to repair an air conditioner coolant leak. In most situations, it might just be better to schedule air conditioning installation since Freon is expensive. Manufacturing of this coolant was stopped in 2020 because of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. As a result, just limited recycled quantities are available.

Trust Franklin's Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc for Repairing Your Air Conditioner Leaks

When it comes to air conditioning repair in Oxford, turn to the company your neighbors and friends depend on. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and affordable services since 2000. Contact us at 662-281-1231 to request your appointment today!