During the summer, you rely on your cooling system to keep you comfortable in your home on hot days. When there’s a problem like a leak or your air conditioner isn’t running properly, it can make summer unbearable. Here’s what you should know about what causes A/C leaks and what you can do about them.
Find Out What’s Leaking
While water is the most common type of leak from both ductless and ducted HVAC systems, other types of leaks can occur as well. Your air conditioner can also leak refrigerant, oil, and grease. Examine the substance that is leaking from your A/C closely. A water leak is often easy to mend, but a refrigerant or oil leak is typically more serious.
Understand the Causes of Air Conditioning Leaks
There are many reasons why your air conditioning unit could be leaking, but arguably the most commonly seen issue is a drain line that has become clogged. When this occurs, condensation cannot drain properly from the air conditioner, resulting in a leaky system and water damage to your home. Clogged A/C drains are often the result of built-up debris, dirt, rust, and algae.
Oil can leak from your air conditioning unit if there’s an issue with the compressors. Often, oil leaks will be in combination with a refrigerant leak.
Refrigerant leaks are usually caused by the erosion of metal reservoirs and piping over time due to formaldehyde or formic acid corrosion. These acids eat tiny holes in your air conditioner’s metal tubing, causing the refrigerant to leak out and evaporate. Refrigerant is a hazardous substance to both humans and the environment. When uncontained, it contributes to the destruction of the Earth’s ozone layer. Human inhalation can result in critical toxicity and death.
Simple Fix-It Tips
If your air conditioner seems to be leaking only water, the easiest thing to try is cleaning or replacing the air filter. You can also replace your drain pan if you have a central HVAC system. However, doing anything beyond keeping your A/C clean and regularly looking for potential problems is best left to the professionals.
When to Contact an HVAC Professional
If you notice any of these signs of a potential air conditioner leak, contact an experienced HVAC contractor:
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You can see leakage from the unit
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You notice that your A/C isn’t cooling your home as well as it used to
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Your indoor units make grinding or hissing sounds
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The coils in your outdoor unit are frozen
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Your electric bills are suddenly rising
Get Top Tier HVAC Service from Qualified Professionals at N.E.T.R., Inc.
At N.E.T.R., Inc., your family’s comfort and safety are our priority. If you suspect that your cooling system may have a leak, contact us as soon as possible. One of our expertly trained, qualified contractors will evaluate your system and make maintenance and/or repair recommendations.
We know that battling hot New England summers without adequate air conditioning can be excruciating. Our team of Mitsubishi Diamond Elite Contractors is available now to help get your air conditioning system back to good. Contact us by calling 781.933.NETR (6387) or fill out our short online form now.
