Suppose your air conditioning unit is leaking water. In that case, it’s best to shut it off immediately, advises the Mike Dunfee Group company, and contact a professional to assess its damage and repair it as soon as possible. Doing this will prevent further harm to both yourself and your home.
Let’s go over some reasons your AC may be leaking water.
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1. Clogged drain line
As your air conditioner cools the air, it removes moisture from its evaporator coil and drops it into a drain pan for collection. Condensation from this pan runs through its drain line to leave your home via white PVC pipes, eventually clogging it up with dust, mold and sludge over time.
If this occurs, water that collects in your drain pan could overflow and flood into your attic or basement. A professional can clean out and unclog your AC drain line to address this problem.
2. Rusted drain pan
As your air conditioning system runs, moisture drips off evaporator coils into a drain pan made of metal; over time, this metal becomes exposed to oxygen and begins corroding, eventually cracking, allowing its contents to escape through cracks into your home.
Water that escapes your drain pan exits through a drain line and, when this line becomes clogged, prevents it from flowing freely out. To clear them quickly, use either a wet/dry vacuum or professional services to remove this grime so water flows freely out.
Based on the age and condition of your air conditioning unit, it may be wise to upgrade or change out its drain pan entirely. A new pan may be less susceptible to cracking and thus help avoid an air conditioning leak.
3. Damaged evaporator coil insulation
Condensation forms as warm air moves over an AC’s evaporator coil. The moisture drips into a drain pan that connects to a condensate drain line leading outside. Insulation surrounding an evaporator coil helps keep condensation flowing off and away from your indoor air handler.
Over time, however, that insulation may become damaged with cracks or holes; when this happens, any accumulated condensation may freeze, leading to possible water leakage from air conditioning units that become low on refrigerant levels and become low enough for freezing to occur.
Whenever your HVAC begins leaking water, take immediate steps to stop further damage or costly repairs. Contact a professional who will inspect and address the problem as soon as possible; be sure to ask what potential issues could be contributing to its leakage so they can be addressed before they worsen.
4. Dirty evaporator coil
Dirt buildup on an air conditioner’s evaporator coil can act as an insulator and hinder its ability to absorb heat effectively. Furthermore, this may make your unit cycle on and off more frequently and run for longer to achieve your desired temperature setting.
Clean your evaporator coil regularly to ensure any excess water can easily flow out and away from the unit, helping avoid water damage and health hazards due to mold spores.
Ensure the power is turned off before accessing the coil.
Brush away as much debris as possible using a soft-bristled brush with any potential power leakage issues in mind. Also, check drain pan and line connections for any signs of disconnection, which could lead to an AC leakage situation.
