One of the most common concerns with air conditioning units is water dripping indoors. Before you call for cooling and heating repair, it’s best to understand from where the water is coming. You might be able to address the problem yourself, but calling a professional is never out of the question.
How Water Forms in Your AC
There is an evaporator coil in your AC. It’s the part of your AC that cools the air that blows over it. As warm air comes into contact with the cold surface of the coil, moisture naturally forms. To keep the moisture from making a mess in your home, it collects in a drain pan, which directs it toward a condensate drain line. That is a pipe – usually made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) – that leads the water to the outside.
Why Is the AC Dripping Water in Your Home?
There are several possible reasons. Here are some of the most common:
- Condensate Drain Line Is Blocked
The condensate drain line’s job is to lead water out of your home. If it’s blocked, the drain pan will overflow, causing the water to drip indoors. Dust, dirt, mold and sludge can all clog up the drain line. You can remove the clog with a wet/dry vacuum, but calling a pro is the safer option. - Drain Pan Is Broken
The drain pan in an old AC can get damaged, especially if it’s become covered in rust. A broken drain pan is useless so the solution is to replace it. - Condensate Pump Is Malfunctioning
A basement is lower than ground level, so instead of relying on gravity alone, the AC needs a condensate pump to get rid of the water. A broken condensate pump will fail to do this so the water will collect on your basement floor. Have the pump repaired or replaced by a professional. - Filter Is Dirty
A dirty filter will prevent the free flow of air over the evaporator coil. This can cause the coil to freeze. When it thaws, the melted ice might be too much to handle for the drain pan, causing an overflow. Change or clean your air filter every 1 to 3 months. - AC Is Low on Refrigerant
If you notice that your AC is not cooling well, or it creates a bubbling or hissing noise (which means it’s leaking refrigerant), you might also notice a pool of water below the AC. Low refrigerant will also cause the evaporator coil to freeze. To address this problem, you need a professional to repair or replace the AC.
EZ Air Conditioning and Heating offers air conditioning installation. We can also help you address problems with an AC unit that’s leaking indoors. Call us today at (210) 558-7883, or use our contact page.
