When your air conditioner is running properly, your home will be cool and dry. A leaking air conditioner is annoying but isn’t necessarily dangerous. 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 dangerous for you and the environment. In either case, repairing a leak will require skilled 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 tech will closely inspect 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 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 units, 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 goes out of your house through a condensate drain line.

Because of 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 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 Ilten's pros can eliminate clogs and get water draining again smoothly. Reach us at 319-208-2351 for help.

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
  • Reducing 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 melts, it can make the drain pan overflow. We suggest inspecting your air filter if you haven’t changed 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. Replacing your pan or pump requires a pro, so call us at 319-208-2351 for assistance.

Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?

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

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

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

Freon is bad for your health if handled improperly, so you’ll need an HVAC professional like Ilten's to repair an air conditioner coolant leak. In most instances, it may just be better to request air conditioning installation since Freon is costly. Production of this coolant was halted in 2020 because of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. As a result, just reduced recycled quantities are available.

Rely on Ilten's for Fixing Your Air Conditioner Leaks

When it comes to air conditioning repair in Cedar Rapids, turn to the company your neighbors and friends depend on. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and affordable services since {year}. Contact us at 319-208-2351 to schedule your appointment now!