Companies like Accutemp Cooling and Heating that offer reliable AC repair in Bossier City, LA regularly deal with leaking air conditioners—and they’re not alone, as leaky ACs are pretty much common issues that virtually every company in the industry deals with. As Popular Mechanics’ Joe Truini notes:
Nearly 90 percent of all central-air service calls are related to leaks. Although these leaks tend to be relatively small, if left unchecked they can cause a tremendous amount of damage, especially if the air handler is installed above a ceiling and can drip downward.
Leaking air conditioners are often caused by three major factors: one, a cracked or punctured overflow pan; two, a clogged air filter; and three, a clogged condensate line. Here are a few quick fixes for these problems.
As air conditioners operate, it is normal for them to create a significant amount of condensation (water produced when water vapor hits a cold surface). This water is kept from leaking with the use of an overflow pan, which collects the condensate and slowly drains it. The overflow pan is easy to inspect—one just needs to have a flashlight to check the corners and edges for cracks or holes, and once the presence of damage is confirmed, they can be patched up with epoxy glue.
Next, dirty filters should be cleaned (if they are the washable type) or replaced every month, especially during the cooling season. Homeowners need to look for the filter’s minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV), which indicates how much filtration it provides on a scale of 1 to 12 (12 being the highest). What these values mean is that the higher the MERV value the more energy is needed to pull air through it. This is essential for compatibility purposes, so homeowners must remember to always balance air quality concerns with energy costs.
Lastly, clogged drain lines need to be cleared out. Condensate lines can accumulate algae over time, and one of the best ways to stop algae growth is by using vinegar as a cleaning solution. This can be done by removing the plug from the A/C’s drain pipe that runs in the attic and leads away from the drain pan, then pouring in about six ounces of vinegar.
However, there would be times when even these so-called easy but effective fixes fail. This is when professionals from Bossier City, LA air conditioning repair and installation companies come in to deal with the problem on a more calculated approach, offering a much faster and better way to solve the problem for good.
(Source: Quick Fixes for Leaky A/C Systems, Popular Mechanics, May 18, 2012)
