WHY IS MY AIR CONDITIONER LEAKING WATER

When the weather outside gets especially hot, you need your air conditioner more than ever. The hotter the summer day, the harder your air conditioner must work to keep your home comfortable. On the hottest days of the year, you are more likely than ever to experience system performance issues, like leaks and clogs. Because wear and tear can cause performance issues, it’s important to maintain your system and check for issues that could worsen if not repaired immediately.

For example, if you’ve noticed water leaking from you air conditioner, you may have thought it was something benign. Depending on how long you’ve experienced the leak, you may be able to take corrective steps to solve the problem and preserve the integrity of your cooling system. When your AC unit pulls warm air out of your home and over the evaporator coil, condensation forms. These water droplets are channeled into a drain pan, which empties through the condensate line. The drain line takes the water out of your house, so you should never see an interior leak from your AC unit unless there’s a problem. If you see a leak inside your home, it’s a sign there’s a problem within the draining system. Below, we’ve listed four issues that could be causing your AC leak.

4 Common Causes of AC System Leaks

• Clogged Drain Line: As we mentioned earlier, a clog in the condensate line can cause the water droplets created by your AC system to backup into your home. The condensate line can become clogged with dirt and dust, which will leave condensation with nowhere to go but back into your home. The easiest way to solve this problem is by cleaning the condensate line using a wet/dry vac. You should be able to suck the clog out with ease, but if that doesn’t work, you may need to contact an HVAC specialist for help. They use industrial strength vacuums that can make quick work of your clogged drain line.

• Dirty Filter: Your AC system needs to have its filter cleaned regularly or it will experience performance issues. All the air in your home is pushed through your filters, so when they are dirty it can force your system to work harder to cool off your home. Not only does a dirty filter force your AC system to work harder, but it can also cause the coils of your AC unit to freeze. The frozen coils will eventually melt, pushing the excess water into your home. Your filters should be replaced every couple months, depending on usage.

• Low Refrigerant: If you have a refrigerant leak within your AC system, it can cause the pressure in your AC system to lower, which leads to a frozen evaporator coil. Eventually, the coil will melt and the water will have nowhere to go but back inside your home. You should check for signs of a leak if you notice strange sounds coming from your system. If you don’t feel comfortable checking the refrigerant line, contact our AC repair specialist for help.

• Broken Condensate Pump: A broken condensate pump is not a common issue, but it can cause a backup of water into your home. Condensate pumps are used for AC systems installed inside basements. If your pump is broken, the pump won’t work and water will back up into your house. If you’ve noticed a leak and none of these other issues have been a problem, you should check the pan for your AC system. If your unit is more than ten years old, you could need a new drain pan because an old pan can leak from rust and wear and tear.

If your AC system is leaking and you can’t find the source of the problem, call the HVAC experts at Air Care Systems. If your AC system is over ten years old, it may need to be replaced. Regardless of the issues, our team will diagnose the problem and get it fixed in no time. You can trust the AC repair specialists at Air Care Systems. We have served the residents of Huntsville and surrounding communities for over 15 years. Contact us at (256) 537-9987 to schedule an appointment today!