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 dangerous but can cause a lot of damage to your house. In contrast, a coolant leak is harmful to you and the environment. In either situation, repairing a leak will require professional 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 inspect your system for issues 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 Does My AC Unit Leak 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 occurs 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 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

Over time, mold can clog the condensate drain line. This can result in water backing up inside your house. Our Woody's Sudden Service pros can break up clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Reach us at 703-278-2036 for help.

Air Filter Is Dirty

We recommend changing flat filters monthly 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 extremely cold and cause it to freeze. As the coil melts, it can overwhelm the drain pan. We recommend inspecting your air filter if you haven’t changed it lately and your air conditioner is leaking water indoors.

If this doesn’t fix the issue, your drain pan may be rusty or have a broken condensate pump. Replacing your pan or pump requires a professional, so call us at 703-278-2036 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 probably has R-22 Freon. As time passes, chemicals in Freon can eat away at metal and cause leaks.

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

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

Freon is hazardous to your health if handled improperly, so you’ll want an HVAC professional like Woody's Sudden Service to repair an air conditioner coolant leak. In most situations, it might just be better to request air conditioning installation since Freon is expensive. Production of this coolant was halted in 2020 due to its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a result, just limited recycled quantities are available.

Rely on Woody's Sudden Service for Repairing Your Air Conditioner Leaks

When it comes to air conditioning repair in Manassas, go with the company your neighbors and friends trust. We’ve been known for our fast, friendly and reasonable services since year. Contact us at 703-278-2036 to schedule your appointment today!