Is a Leaking Air Conditioner Dangerous?

August 13, 2021

When your air conditioner is working properly, your house will be cool and dry. A leaking air conditioner is frustrating 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 home. In contrast, a coolant leak is dangerous for you and the environment. In either situation, repairing a leak will require skilled air conditioning repair.

In most cases, you can stop your air conditioner from leaking by requesting annual 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 cooling and might 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 Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Water?

Water is a natural result 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 blows over it. Condensation occurs as the air cools, flows into a drain pan and goes out of your house through a condensate drain line.

Due to the condensation process, having water back up is a common problem. We regularly receive calls about an air conditioner leaking water inside or an air conditioner leaking water outside. Here’s why it happens:

Drain Line Is Clogged

Over time, mold can block the condensate drain line. This can result in water backing up inside your house. Our JTech Mechanical professionals can break up clogs and get water flowing again smoothly. Give us a call at 281-231-8768 for assistance.

Air Filter Needs to Be Changed


Replacing your air filter is critical for:

  • Indoor air quality
  • Energy efficiency
  • Reducing breakdowns
  • Lengthening your air conditioner’s life span


If this doesn’t fix the problem, your drain pan may be rusty or have a malfunctioning condensate pump. Getting a new pan or pump requires a pro, so call us at 281-231-8768 for help.

Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Freon?

Your air conditioner relies on coolant to transfer heat. If your air conditioner was installed before 2011, it probably has R-22 Freon. As time passes, chemicals in Freon can eat away at metal and create leaks.


  • Air that feels warmer or more humid than usual
  • 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 pro like JTech Mechanical to repair an air conditioner coolant leak. In many situations, it may just be better to schedule air conditioning installation since Freon is expensive. Production of this coolant was stopped in 2020 because of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. As a result, just limited recycled quantities are available.

Rely on JTech Mechanical for Fixing Your Air Conditioner Leaks

When it comes to air conditioning repair in Magnolia, go with the company your neighbors and friends trust. We’ve been known for our quick, friendly and affordable services since 2007. Call us at 281-231-8768 to request your appointment today!