When your air conditioner is running 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 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 harmful to you and the environment. In either case, fixing a leak will require professional air conditioning repair.

In most cases, 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 performance and might 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 blows over it. Condensation forms as the air cools, drips into a drain pan and goes out of your house through a condensate drain line.

Because of the condensation process, having water leak is a common problem. We regularly get 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 block the condensate drain line. This can lead to water leaking inside your house. Our Ilten's professionals can eliminate clogs and get water draining again smoothly. Reach us at 319-208-2351 for assistance.

Air Filter Needs to Be Changed

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
  • Lengthening your air conditioner’s lifetime

A dirty air filter can reduce airflow, make the coil extremely cold and cause it to freeze. 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 malfunctioning condensate pump. Getting a new pan or pump requires a professional, so call us at 319-208-2351 for help.

Why Is the Air Conditioning Leaking Freon?

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

It’s good 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 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 Ilten's to repair an air conditioner coolant leak. In many situations, it may just be better to request air conditioning installation since Freon is expensive. Manufacturing of this coolant was stopped in 2020 due to its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a result, only reduced recycled quantities are available.

Rely on Ilten's to Fix Your Leaky Air Conditioner

When it comes to air conditioning repair in Cedar Rapids, go with the company your neighbors and friends trust. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and reasonable services since {year}. Contact us at 319-208-2351 to request your appointment today!