Have you been noticing a lot of water collecting under or around your air conditioning unit? To understand why your air conditioner is leaking, you first need to know how an air conditioner works.
It is fairly straightforward: your air conditioner unit has an evaporator coil which cools down the air, causing condensation to form. This condensation drips down into a drain pan and goes into a drain line that leads outside the house.
Top 5 Most Common Air Conditioner Leaking Issues
Under normal circumstances, you should not be able to see your air conditioner leaking water. But if this is something that happens very often, there are a couple of things that may be causing the air conditioner to leak water:
- Clogged condensate drain – Dirt and dust can accumulate in the drainage line over time. Combine those with the water passing through and you will get a thick mud or sludge. Once the drain is clogged, water backs up and overflows the condensate pan. If this happens, you can use a vacuum or cleaning solution to clear out the sludge from the condensate line. However, it is often best to do yourself even better and prevent this from happening by having air conditioner maintenance performed on a regular basis.
- Broken condensate pan – If the unit is not being properly maintained, the condensate pan can crack from rust and old age. Check the pan for any damage and patch small holes with epoxy glue. If the damage is already extensive, you may need to replace it with a new pan.
- Broken condensate pump – If your indoor AC unit and furnace are both installed in the basement, there may be a condensate pump that brings water outside. If this pump breaks down, it will cause air conditioner leaking. You will need to call in a heating and cooling company to have the pump repaired or replaced.
- Dirty air filters – If your air filters are not regularly cleaned or replaced, the water from the evaporator coils will freeze and will cause ice to form on the coils. These will begin to melt when the unit is not in use, causing the condensate pan to overflow with water, and air conditioner leaking. Make sure to replace filters once every one to two months, and more so during the cooling season.
- Disconnected drain pipe – Professional installation is important to ensure that your HVAC system is functioning properly. If the air conditioner has not been installed properly, the drain pipe may loosen and get disconnected from the rest of the unit. Call in an HVAC professional to tighten things up and ensure a properly working drainage system.
Air Conditioner Leaking: How Much Water is Too Much?
When it comes to leaking air conditioner units, keep in mind that a small amount of water leaking from your air conditioner is actually normal and should not be a cause for concern. However, if the issue remains persistent for more than 24 hours or if there is a significant amount of water, it is best to call in a professional to have the air conditioner leaking fixed.
Galmiche & Sons has been in the heating and cooling business since 1950, and our experts can handle your air conditioner leaks quickly and efficiently. To find out more about our heating and air conditioning services and to schedule an appointment for HVAC repair, please give us a call at 314-993-1110.
