Is a Leaking Air Conditioner Dangerous?

August 13, 2021

When your air conditioner is running 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 home. In contrast, a coolant leak is dangerous for you and the environment. In either case, repairing a leak will require professional 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 technician will closely examine your system for issues and clean it. This service helps provide worry-free performance 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 has an evaporator coil that cools warm air as it moves over it. Condensation forms as the air cools, drips 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 often get 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 block the condensate drain line. This can lead to water leaking inside your home. Our Rescue Heating & Air professionals can break up clogs and get water draining again smoothly. Give us a call at 361-265-4371 for help.

Air Filter Is Dirty

We recommend replace flat filters monthly and pleated filters every three months.

Replacing your air filter is critical for:

  • Indoor air quality
  • Energy efficiency
  • Decreasing breakdowns
  • Extending 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 suggest 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 malfunctioning condensate pump. Getting a new pan or pump requires a pro, so call us at 361-265-4371 for help.

Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?

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

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

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

Freon is hazardous to your health if handled improperly, so you’ll need an HVAC pro like Rescue Heating & Air to repair an air conditioner coolant leak. In most situations, it may 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, only reduced recycled quantities are available.

Trust Rescue Heating & Air for Fixing Your Air Conditioner Leaks

When it comes to air conditioning repair in Alice, turn to the company your neighbors and friends depend on. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and reasonable services since 2008. Contact us at 361-265-4371 to request your appointment now!