When your air conditioner is running 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 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 dangerous for you and the environment. In either case, fixing a leak will require skilled air conditioning repair.

In most instances, you can prevent your air conditioner from leaking by scheduling annual air conditioning maintenance. During your appointment, an HVAC tech will closely inspect your system for issues and clean it. This service helps provide worry-free performance 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 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 moves 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 occurs:

Drain Line Is Clogged

As time passes, mold can block the condensate drain line. This can result in water leaking inside your house. Our Patterson & Stirling professionals can eliminate clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Give us a call at 814-308-0416 for help.

Air Filter Needs to Be Changed

We recommend changing flat filters once a month and pleated filters every three months.

Replacing your air filter is crucial for:

  • Indoor air quality
  • Energy efficiency
  • Reducing 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 overwhelm the drain pan. We recommend inspecting 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 may be rusty or have a broken condensate pump. Getting a new pan or pump requires a professional, so contact us at 814-308-0416 for assistance.

Why Does My AC Unit Leak Freon?

Your air conditioner needs coolant to transfer heat. If your air conditioner was installed before 2011, it likely has R-22 Freon. As time passes, 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 develops one. They include:

  • Air that seems hotter or more humid than normal
  • Bubbling or hissing sounds 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 need an HVAC pro like Patterson & Stirling to fix an air conditioner coolant leak. In most instances, it may just be better to request air conditioning installation since Freon is costly. Production of this coolant was halted in 2020 due to its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a result, only reduced recycled quantities are available.

Contact Patterson & Stirling to Repair Your Leaky Air Conditioner

When it comes to air conditioning repair in Erie, turn to the company your neighbors and friends trust. We’ve been known for our fast, friendly and reasonable services since year. Contact us at 814-308-0416 to schedule your appointment today!