Reasons Why Your Air Conditioner Could Leak Water - Air Handlers Skip to content

Reasons Why Your Air Conditioner Could Leak Water

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One common complaint air conditioning companies in the Hampton Roads area get in late summer is water leaking from the indoor unit inside the home. There are a number of reasons why your air conditioning system could be leaking water.

  • The most common problem is that the drain pan is overflowing. Over time, the drain line tends to get blocked with debris.
  • The drain pan may be rusted and cracked or the drain line may be loose or may have become disconnected or cracked.
  • The air conditioner may be low on refrigerant. This can cause the system to freeze up while the unit is running. If the unit is shut off or is not running as much, the ice will melt causing moisture or dripping of water.
  • The filter may be dirty and the airflow is blocked form moving through. This can cause the unit to freeze as well.
  • The ductwork may be uninsulated or not insulated well. This can cause condensation which may drip water or moisture.
  • The drain line may not have a P-trap and air vent. The p-trap allows water to flow from the unit when there is a negative airflow. Without a proper trap, the unit will suck air up the drain, filling the pan with water.

Air conditioning water leaks can potentially cause quite a bit of damage to your home. Prevention is the key to avoiding these issues. The best way to stay on top of the operation of your system is to have a licensed professional perform preventative maintenance every year. Among other things, in the cooling season check we flush the drain line and install anti-fungal condensate tablets to the condensate pan. Your seasonal checks include checking refrigerant pressures. If the refrigerant level is low, the unit can freeze up, then thaw causing moisture problems.

Some things you can do to avoid potential issues are change your filters every 30-90 days and have your technician install a safety cut-off switch, which will cut your system off if water starts to rise in the pan.

Call today 757-424-4836 and we would be happy to answer questions and send you a brochure.

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