We all love a dip in the water on a hot summer day, but water leaking from your AC unit is definitely not what you need! There are many common causes of leakage from your air conditioner. Luckily, they can typically be easily prevented and fixed.
What Causes Water to Leak From Your AC?
Before we talk about what causes water to leak, we first must briefly understand how your air conditioning system works.
The indoor section of the AC unit uses an evaporator coil to absorb heat and humidity inside your home, and the moisture on this coil is called condensation. Once the water trickles down to the evaporator coil, it relies on the drain pan to catch the water and be sent through the condensate drain line. Within this process, a few underlying problems could cause water to leak from the system.
First, if the condensate drain line becomes clogged with dust, dirt, or sludge, the water backs up into your home and causes a leak. This is one of the most common causes of an AC leaking water. Second, a damaged or rusted drain pan means that the water may be falling right through.
Next, a dirty air filter will limit the amount of airflow passing over the evaporator coil, which can cause it to freeze. It will then melt and lead to leakage. Finally, low pressure due to low refrigerant charge will also decrease the temperature and cause the evaporator coil to freeze.
Luckily, these are common issues that usually require a simple fix. A clogged condensate drain line, dirty air filter, rusty/damaged drain pan, and low refrigerant charge can all be prevented by keeping up with annual maintenance. If you haven't already scheduled your AC tune-up, call your local HVAC contractor. This will ensure your system is running properly, saving you money, and keeping you comfortable all summer.
If you live in the Delaware Valley/Greater Philadelphia area and would like to find comfort within your home, visit our website or give us a call at 215 - 245 - 3200 to learn more.
