Why Your Residential Air Conditioner Is Leaking Water

During hot weather conditions, many homeowners deal with their air conditioners leaking water inside their homes. This issue can be caused by several different things. To understand why you have water leaking inside, you should first learn how the water forms on your air conditioner. Common reasons for air conditioner leaks include clogged condensate lines and blocked air filters.

Condensation on the evaporator coil

Your air conditioner contains an evaporator coil inside the unit that cools the warm air that is blown over it. This action causes condensation to form on the evaporator coil, just as water droplets form on a cold glass of water when the weather is warm. The moisture on the evaporator coil drips into a pan and down a condensate drain line. The condensation should stay in the pan or the drain line, but there are a few reasons why the water can leak into your home.

Clogged condensate drain line

A clog in the condensate drain line is a common cause of water leaking from your air conditioner. If the line becomes clogged with dirt, mold, or sludge the water can back up into your home. A wet or dry vacuum can be used to unclog the drain line. You may want to consider hiring a professional HVAC technician to remove the blockage with a special vacuum for best results.

Damaged pan or pump

If you have an old air conditioner, the drain pan may be rusted through or damaged. The water will fall right through the pan if this is the case. To fix the issue, the pan simply needs to be replaced. If your furnace or indoor air conditioner is in the basement, there is a condensate pump that pushes the water outside. If this pump breaks, the water will not be removed properly. You will need to have the pump repaired or replaced in this situation.

Clogged air filter

A dirty air conditioner filter can cause leaks by blocking airflow over the evaporator coil. If the airflow is blocked, the coil will get too cold and freeze over. When the ice melts, it releases an excess amount of water that the drain pan may not be able to hold. Check to see if your filter is dirty and change it if needed. The filter should probably be changed every one to three months.

Low refrigerant levels

Leaking water may be caused by low refrigerant levels. Having low refrigerant levels will decrease the pressure of your air conditioner and cause the evaporator coil to freeze. Just as in the scenario above, the ice will melt and overflow from the drain pan. The air conditioner is probably low on refrigerant if it is not cooling, or if you hear a hissing or bubbling noise.

If you would like to learn more about air conditioning systems, contact the experts at Allen’s Tri-State Mechanical, Inc. in Amarillo, Texas today. We provide residential, commercial, and heavy industrial services throughout the Texas Panhandle and Tri-State area, including Amarillo, Borger, Dumas, and Pampa. Call us today at (806) 376-8345 or Contact Us by email for more information. You can also stop by our location at 404 S. Hayden St. in Amarillo, Texas for more information.