Is a Leaking Air Conditioner Dangerous?

August 13, 2021

When your air conditioner is working properly, your home 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 bad 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, fixing a leak will require professional air conditioning repair.

In most instances, 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 provide worry-free performance and might even boost energy efficiency.

Learn more about 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 units, one outside and one inside. The indoor unit includes 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.

Due to 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 occurs:

Drain Line Is Plugged

As time passes, mold can clog the condensate drain line. This can result in water leaking inside your house. Our Premium Air Services LLC professionals can break up clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Reach us at 713-364-9957 for help.

Air Filter Is Dirty

We recommend changing 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 lifetime

A dirty air filter can restrict airflow, make the coil extremely cold and freeze it. 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 fix the problem, your drain pan may be rusty or have a broken condensate pump. Getting a new pan or pump requires a pro, so contact us at 713-364-9957 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 probably uses R-22 Freon. Over time, 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 develops one. They include:

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

Freon is hazardous to your health if handled improperly, so you’ll want an HVAC professional like Premium Air Services LLC to repair an air conditioner coolant leak. In many situations, it might just be better to request air conditioning installation since Freon is costly. Production 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.

Trust Premium Air Services LLC for Repairing Your Air Conditioner Leaks

When it comes to air conditioning repair in Tomball, go with the company your neighbors and friends depend on. We’ve been known for our fast, friendly and affordable services since 2000. Contact us at 713-364-9957 to schedule your appointment now!