Here’s a common question we get during California summers, Why is my AC leaking water inside my home? D C’s heating & air conditioning is the best local repair company call 949-770-9616 today. There are multiple causes of this problem. But first, turn your AC’s thermostat to “Off” to prevent further damage to your home. Water damage is bad for a California home. There are several ways to prevent water damage from your air conditioner.
To understand why this is happening, you need to know how water forms on your AC in the first place.
Why does water form in my air conditioner?
Your AC’s inside unit contains the evaporator coil (pictured on the right) that cools the warm air blown over it. This causes condensation (moisture) to form on the coil, just like how water droplets form on a cold glass of water on a hot day.
The moisture on the coil drips into a drain pan and down a condensate drain line (a white PVC pipe) that leads out your home.
So, with all that in mind, here are a few things that cause that water to leak into your home.
Cause 1: Clogged condensate drain line
A clogged condensate drain line is the most common cause of water leaking from your AC into your home. Having a plugged primary condensation drain will cause the secondary drain to leak across a window or outside so you can see their is an air conditioning issue.
If the drain line gets clogged with dust, dirt, sludge or mold, that water backs up into your home. In that case, you’ll need to unclog it. There are multiple unclogging methods, like using a wet/dry vac on the condensate line.
But the surefire way is to have a professional use a special vacuum to suck the blockage material out. Why is My Home Air Conditioner Leaking Water Inside?
Cause 2: Damaged/rusted drain pan
Got an old air conditioner (12-15 years)? The drain pan may be damaged or rusted through, so water just falls right through. You’ll need to replace the pan. Many of the older condensation pans were made from metal. Most newer condensation pans are plastic now.
Cause 3: Broken condensate pump
Is your furnace and indoor AC unit installed in the basement? If so then there is a condensate pump that pumps the water outside. But if the pump breaks, the water isn’t being pumped outside anymore. You will need to repair or replace the pump.
Cause 4: Dirty air filter
A dirty air filter blocks airflow over the evaporator coil. When that happens, the evaporator coil gets too cold and freezes over. When it melts, it drips an excess amount of water that the pan may not be able to handle.
Check your air filter to see if it’s dirty and change it if needed. You should be changing it every 1-3 months (depending on the season).
Cause 5: Low refrigerant
Similar to a dirty air filter, low refrigerant will lower pressure in the AC system, causing the evaporator coil to freeze over. When the coil melts, water overflows the drain pan.
You’ll notice you’re low on refrigerant when:
- The air conditioner isn’t cooling well
- You hear a hissing or bubbling noise (indicating a refrigerant leak)
- Low air flow through registers or vents
- Frozen pipes or frozen outside condenser unit
- Why is My Home Air Conditioner Leaking Water Inside?
Depending on the severity of the refrigerant leak you’ll either repair the leak or replace the whole AC unit.
Need a professional?
If changing the air filter did not help, contact Cool Today to repair your air conditioner. 949-770-9616 and let us blow out your condensation lines. Our prices start at $95.00
Also, ask us about installing a float switch on your air conditioner if it does not have one already. This switch will shut down the air conditioner in case it overflows with water again.
Why is My Home Air Conditioner Leaking Water Inside? Or maybe your water is leaking outside on the window or sidewalk. You have a plugged primary drain issue. Let us help you with all your air conditioner issues.
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D C’s Heating & Air Conditioning
24872 Wells Fargo Dr Laguna Hills, CA 92653
Call 949-770-9616
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