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 coolant.

Water leaking from your air conditioner isn’t bad but can cause a lot of damage to your house. In contrast, a coolant leak is harmful to you and the environment. In either case, fixing a leak will require skilled 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 inspect your system for issues and clean it. This service helps ensure worry-free cooling and might 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 includes an evaporator coil that cools warm air as it blows over it. Condensation forms as the air cools, flows 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 often 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

Over time, mold can block the condensate drain line. This can result in water leaking inside your home. Our Fire & Ice HVAC pros can eliminate clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Give us a call at 703-595-4157 for assistance.

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
  • Decreasing breakdowns
  • Extending your air conditioner’s life span

A dirty air filter can restrict airflow, make the coil very cold and cause it to freeze. As the coil defrosts, it can overwhelm the drain pan. We suggest inspecting 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 professional, so contact us at 703-595-4157 for help.

Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?

Your air conditioner uses coolant to transfer 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 create leaks.

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

  • Air that seems hotter or more humid than usual
  • 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 pro like Fire & Ice HVAC to fix an air conditioner coolant leak. In many situations, it may just be better to schedule air conditioning installation since Freon is costly. Manufacturing of this coolant was stopped in 2020 because of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. As a result, just reduced recycled quantities are available.

Trust Fire & Ice HVAC for Repairing Your Air Conditioner Leaks

When it comes to air conditioning repair in Manassas, turn to the company your neighbors and friends depend on. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and reasonable services since {year}. Call us at 703-595-4157 to request your appointment today!