When your air conditioner is working properly, your home 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 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, fixing a leak will require professional air conditioning repair.

In most instances, you can prevent your air conditioner from leaking by scheduling yearly air conditioning maintenance. During your appointment, an HVAC tech will closely check your system for problems and clean it. This service helps provide worry-free performance and may even improve energy efficiency.

Learn more about 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 has an evaporator coil that cools warm air as it blows 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 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 occurs:

Drain Line Is Clogged

Over time, mold can clog the condensate drain line. This can lead to water leaking inside your home. Our Forster Heating professionals can eliminate clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Give us a call at 530-885-8081 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 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 suggest 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 broken condensate pump. Replacing your pan or pump requires a pro, so call us at 530-885-8081 for help.

Why Does My AC Unit Leak Freon?

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

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

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

Freon is bad for your health if handled improperly, so you’ll want an HVAC pro like Forster Heating to repair an air conditioner coolant leak. In many situations, it might just be better to request air conditioning installation since Freon is expensive. Manufacturing 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 Forster Heating to Repair Your Leaky Air Conditioner

When it comes to air conditioning repair in Auburn, go with the company your neighbors and friends trust. We’ve been known for our fast, friendly and reasonable services since {year}. Call us at 530-885-8081 to schedule your appointment today!