An air conditioner (AC) keeps your house cool and comfortable by removing heat and humidity from the air. As the AC extracts humidity from the air, it produces condensate, or water, in your furnace or air handler. This water is typically kept in a drain pan and moved through piping into your home’s drain system.
As a side effect, faulty components or sludge buildup could cause the piping to become blocked. When this happens, water returns to the drain pan inside your furnace or air handler. It can then leak into your home. This is namely troublesome if your furnace or air handler is up in the attic or above a finished ceiling.
In a majority of homes, municipal codes require a secondary or safety drain pan that is found underneath the furnace or air handler. This secondary drain pan possesses piping that is routed to the outside of the home. Typically, the outlet of the pipe is found above the outside of a window so it’s quickly noticeable if water is draining from this pipe outlet. It is not normal for this to occur. If you see water draining from piping on the outside of your home, this is likely a sign the primary drain is backed up and water is now draining from the safety drain pan.
Here are the most common reasons for why your AC is leaking water and how to take care of the issue. Some homes can also use a safety device that should automatically switch off your AC if the drain becomes clogged. In this case your system will stop cooling until the drain is free of any obstructions. Regardless, if you spot water leaking, make sure to set your thermostat to "off" to stop any other water damage and call a Eveready Service Experts service provider to correct the issues.
Leaking air conditioners often demand professional servicing, which is why we’re here to assist you at Eveready Service Experts . We happily deliver Expert air conditioning repair across North America, backed by a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.*
1. Condensate Drain Is Blocked
When hot, humid air reaches the evaporator coil, water condenses on the chilly metal surface. In the end, the water drains into a pan beneath the indoor coil inside the furnace or air handler. As the cooling sequence takes place, the condensate flows out of the pan and into drain piping before the pan becomes full.
However, mold, mineral deposits, dirt and other debris can clog the drain. This stops the water from flowing away like it’s supposed to. Leave the unclogging process to an Expert like Eveready Service Experts for the peace of mind it’s handled properly and without causing further damage. Service Experts can also install a safety device that will autonomously turn off your AC in the event the drain becomes clogged again in the future, thus minimizing water damage within your home. Of course, scheduling maintenance on your AC will help keep your condensate drain clean and unhampered.
2. Drain Line Is Disconnected
While not very common, the drain line connection to the drain pan may become loose or disconnected. This may be the cause if someone is working close to the unit or when swapping out the air filter. AC leaks may occur when the drain line is disconnected from the pan. Take a look inside your AC to see if the drain line is still leading to the coil drain pan. If it is no longer connected, we encourage calling an HVAC technician to repair this issue as soon as possible. Request an appointment with Eveready Service Experts today.
3. Condensate Pump Isn’t Working
Some air conditioners rely on a condensate pump to properly drain the water. These pumps are necessary when the home’s drain system is placed above the AC unit. Even if the drain is clear, water may back up in the pan and leak out if the condensate pump is faulty. First, double-check that the pump is currently powered. If that’s not the root cause, the AC leak could be due to a broken condensate pump. You should call an air conditioning contractor like Eveready Service Experts to resolve the issue.
4. Evaporator Coil Is Grimy or Damaged
If you see little drips in favor of a bigger puddle near the outside of your furnace or air handler, water may be splashing off the evaporator coil instead of properly moving into the drain pan and condensate line. This can happen if the coils are dirty, or if holes in the insulation surrounding the coils redirect the water. The best approach to stop the evaporator coil from going downhill is to keep up with annual air conditioning maintenance using a Eveready Service Experts membership.
5. Low Refrigerant Level
If you find a leak and the AC isn't cooling properly, the refrigerant level may be lacking thanks to a leak. Air conditioners depend on refrigerant to generate cold air, so getting it inspected thoroughly during seasonal maintenance is very beneficial for the health of your unit. Without adequate refrigerant, the evaporator coils may freeze over and cause the drain pan to overflow as they thaw. Contrary to some expectations, your AC does not need to be refilled unless there is a leak. The system is sealed and recharging is only required when a leak happens within the system. Call Eveready Service Experts as soon as possible to resolve AC refrigerant issues quickly.
6. Dirty Air Filter
Your air conditioner's filter has to be changed regularly to encourage adequate airflow. Without adequate ventilation, the evaporator coils may become too cold and freeze. The evaporator coils will then thaw, causing excess water to fill in the drain pan—possibly creating an overflow. To resolve this, try changing your air filter. If the problem remains, additional repairs might be required. Thankfully, HVAC technicians from Eveready Service Experts are willing and able to serve you, ensuring the problem gets solved.
7. Outdoor Temperature Is Too Cold to Run AC
Air conditioners are made to provide enough cooling for warm weather. Starting your AC when outdoor temperatures are 60 degrees Fahrenheit or lower can cause the evaporator coils to freeze. Once thawed, the water and ice will drop off the evaporator coils and may lead to an overflow thanks to ice blocking the drain pan opening. If a water leak persists, schedule a Eveready Service Experts technician backed by our 100% service guarantee* to help solve the problem.
8. Damaged Drip Pan
Air conditioners are built to last, but nothing lasts forever. If you use an AC that is 12 years or older, the drip pan may be damaged or corroded due to normal use. If the drain pan has holes in it, a water leak can appear as condensate seeps directly through it. Eveready Service Experts can replace the drain pan and ensure your AC gets back to working like it’s supposed to.
Our Experts Can Tackle All Your Air Conditioning Repair Needs
Whatever the reason why your AC is leaking water, Eveready Service Experts can fix the problem. We’ll troubleshoot and fix your air conditioner, getting it back to running again as soon as possible.
Our technicians are well trained, knowledgeable and certified to perform dependable work. We have full confidence in our repairs—in fact, we back up everything we perform with a one-year 100% Satisfaction Guarantee!*
We’ll even suggest a worry-free membership plan. This can help you catch AC issues, like water leaks, more quickly so you can avoid future breakdowns while keeping your house cool.
Contact us at 804-548-4480 to schedule your air conditioning appointment in North America today!