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 annoying but isn’t necessarily dangerous. It depends on whether it’s leaking water or refrigerant.

Water leaking from your air conditioner isn’t bad but can cause a lot of damage to your home. In contrast, a coolant leak is harmful to you and the environment. In either situation, repairing a leak will require skilled air conditioning repair.

In most cases, you can prevent your air conditioner from leaking by requesting yearly air conditioning maintenance. During your appointment, an HVAC tech will closely check your system for issues and clean it. This service helps ensure worry-free performance and may 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 result of the cooling process. Your air conditioner has two systems, 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, drips into a drain pan and drains out of your home through a condensate drain line.

Because of the condensation process, having water leak 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 Plugged

Over time, mold can clog the condensate drain line. This can lead to water leaking inside your house. Our CNR Air Conditioning Inc pros can break up clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Reach us at 239-241-5318 for assistance.

Air Filter Is Dirty

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
  • Decreasing breakdowns
  • Extending your air conditioner’s lifetime

A dirty air filter can restrict airflow, make the coil very cold and freeze it. As the coil defrosts, it can overwhelm the drain pan. We recommend inspecting your air filter if you haven’t replaced 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 malfunctioning condensate pump. Getting a new pan or pump requires a professional, so call us at 239-241-5318 for help.

Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?

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

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

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

Freon is hazardous to your health if handled improperly, so you’ll want an HVAC pro like CNR Air Conditioning Inc to repair an air conditioner coolant leak. In most situations, it may just be better to schedule 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 reduced recycled quantities are available.

Trust CNR Air Conditioning Inc for Fixing Your Air Conditioner Leaks

When it comes to air conditioning repair in Naples, go with the company your neighbors and friends depend on. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and reasonable services since 2002. Call us at 239-241-5318 to request your appointment now!