Is a Leaking Air Conditioner Dangerous?

August 13, 2021

When your air conditioner is working properly, your house will be cool and dry. A leaking air conditioner is annoying but isn’t necessarily harmful. 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 home. 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 instances, you can stop your air conditioner from leaking by scheduling annual 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 improve 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 result 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 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 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 Clogged

As time passes, mold can clog the condensate drain line. This can result in water backing up inside your house. Our Cool Air Solutions pros can break up clogs and get water draining again smoothly. Reach us at 951-299-9853 for assistance.

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
  • Extending your air conditioner’s life span

A dirty air filter can reduce airflow, make the coil very 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 resolve the problem, your drain pan may be rusty or have a malfunctioning condensate pump. Getting a new pan or pump requires a pro, so contact us at 951-299-9853 for assistance.

Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?

Your air conditioner relies on coolant to move heat. If your air conditioner was installed before 2011, it probably uses R-22 Freon. As time passes, chemicals in Freon can eat through 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 seems warmer or more humid than usual
  • Bubbling or hissing sounds by the air conditioner
  • Sweet smell near the air conditioner
  • Frozen evaporator coil

Freon is bad for your health if handled improperly, so you’ll need an HVAC professional like Cool Air Solutions to fix an air conditioner coolant leak. In most instances, it might just be better to request air conditioning installation since Freon is costly. Manufacturing of this coolant was halted in 2020 because of its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a result, only limited recycled quantities are available.

Trust Cool Air Solutions for Repairing Your Air Conditioner Leaks

When it comes to air conditioning repair in Murrieta, turn to the company your neighbors and friends trust. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and reasonable services since 2006. Contact us at 951-299-9853 to schedule your appointment now!