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 refrigerant.

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

In most cases, you can stop your air conditioner from leaking by requesting yearly air conditioning maintenance. During your appointment, an HVAC tech will closely examine your system for problems and clean it. This service helps provide worry-free cooling and may even boost energy efficiency.

Learn more about 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 occurs 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 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 happens:

Drain Line Is Plugged

Over time, mold can clog the condensate drain line. This can result in water leaking inside your home. Our Fire & Ice HVAC pros can break up clogs and get water draining again smoothly. Reach us at 703-595-4157 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
  • Lengthening 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 make the drain pan overflow. 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 malfunctioning condensate pump. Getting a new pan or pump requires a professional, so contact us at 703-595-4157 for assistance.

Why Is the Air Conditioning Leaking Freon?

Your air conditioner relies on coolant to transfer heat. If your air conditioner was put in before 2011, it likely uses 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 has one. They include:

  • Air that seems warmer or more humid than normal
  • Bubbling or hissing sounds by 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 repair an air conditioner coolant leak. In many situations, it may just be better to request air conditioning installation since Freon is costly. Manufacturing of this coolant was halted in 2020 because of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. As a result, just limited recycled quantities are available.

Contact Fire & Ice HVAC to Repair Your Air Conditioner Leaks

When it comes to air conditioning repair in Manassas, go with the company your neighbors and friends depend on. We’ve been known for our fast, friendly and affordable services since {year}. Contact us at 703-595-4157 to request your appointment now!