Air conditioners are vital to help you cool down in the summer, but they’re not indestructible. Some air conditioner malfunctions are dangerous and complicated to fix, but leaks are rather common and not always inherently serious. Here’s everything to know about leaking air conditioners and how to handle them.
What Is It Leaking?
There are several different liquids inside an air conditioner. Water forms due to condensation and should be safely disposed of with a condensation pump. However, this water can also leak out of the air conditioner. Leaking water is not inherently dangerous, but it can be annoying to worry about and can lead to larger issues if left unchecked.
The other liquid found inside air conditioners is refrigerant, which is used to chill down the hot air to release it indoors. Refrigerants are much more dangerous than water. That’s because it can harm your health if you breathe it in or touch it. It’s also dangerous for the environment, so an outdoor leak should not be allowed to just run into a drain.
Why Is It Leaking?
There are several reasons why your air conditioner may be leaking. Many of these issues are not simple to fix without a trained HVAC professional — especially if it’s a refrigerant leak or caused by a malfunction within the air conditioner itself. You may be faced with:
- A clogged drain line creates a buildup of water pressure that needs to be released somewhere.
- An iced-over coil that, when defrosted, results in excess water going into the drain.
- Cracked drain pans, which release liquid into your house.
- Damaged or eaten metal that results in holes. This is often the case with older air conditioners that use Freon as the refrigerant, and it’s one way for coolant to leak.
Fixing the Leak
If you have a leaking air conditioner, you shouldn’t wait before calling Hardcastle Home Services. We can help with your air conditioner repairs so that you can keep cool while keeping safe.
