It’s not normal for air conditioners to leak water, and when they do, disregarding the problem could be detrimental. Air conditioning systems trap humidity and heat from the air in your home, which triggers condensate production by the air handler or furnace. The cool fresh air distributes through your home while the condensate is stored in the drain pan and transported to the drain system via piping. The water will back up to the drain pan if the piping gets blocked by sludge buildup or a byproduct of the air-cooling process. It will later spill into your living space, creating perfect conditions for mold to develop. Air conditioning specialists link water leaks to various reasons, and below we discuss five of them.
Dirty AC Coils
Neglecting AC maintenance often leaves the AC coils at risk of having grime and dust buildups. As dirt builds up around the evaporator coils, it impedes the smooth flow of the condensation into the drain pan. Trapped moisture that develops due to flawed condensation flow can drip onto your interior space. Air conditioning leaks caused by this problem aren’t challenging to resolve and can be dealt with immediately. Air conditioning technicians can conduct extensive AC cleaning to eradicate the accumulated dirt. If you’re not lucky enough to discover the dirty coils in time, the issue could become worse and more costly to resolve. Basically, if left uncleaned for weeks or months, the evaporator coils will attract and accumulate massive amounts of grime, which to some point will make the coils corrode. Corroded evaporator coils won’t perform as efficiently and reliably, straining other components and raising your energy bills. When corroded, the evaporator coils can also lead to refrigerant leaks. Scheduled AC maintenance can prevent grime buildup and prevent costly coil replacements.
Blocked condensate Drain
When your air conditioning condensate drain gets clogged, water is directed to the drain pan rather than the drain line’s exterior. Leaving this kind of problem unresolved for a long time will worsen it, causing condensate lines damage. The damaged condensate lines will ultimately allow water to leak inside your home or attic walls, causing water damage and mold growth. So, what are the signs of a blocked condensate drain? Here are some indicators your drain is blocked and needs cleaning. Rust stains on the home’s exterior close to the drain lines could indicates that your condensate line is clogged or corroded. Condensate line corrosion often results from mold, mildew, and grime inside the line. Rust formation in the emergency condensate drain pan indicates a condensate drip pan leak, blocked line, or leaking condensate pipe. Another indicator is water overflowing from the condensate pan. When water overflows from the condensate drip pan into your ceiling, home or walls, it’s a clear indication of a clogged drain line. Lastly, if the air conditioning system has become inefficient, it’s time you called an expert to clean the condensate drain line.
Dirty Air Filters
Air filters in your air conditioning system clog up because of grime buildup, sweltering air outside, and unusually cold or hot temperatures. Naturally, air filters work to trap microorganisms and pollutants, preventing them from entering your air conditioning unit. However, they can only do that for a limited time before they start succumbing to dirt and grime buildup. When dirty, the air filters cause air not to flow efficiently into the air conditioning unit and moisture not to be channeled out to the drainage system. Ultimately, the moisture will be trapped in your air conditioning unit, causing the buildup of ice crystals around the air filter and the evaporator coils. The ice crystals will melt when the temperature increases, making water leak onto the walls and ceiling. AC filters are supposed to be changed every three months, so watch your air filters and get them changed often. If you notice that your air filters are dirty and clogged, and water is leaking from your air conditioner, you should talk with the experts to help resolve the issue. The technicians at Proactive Comfort have decades of experience and guarantee outstanding results.
Low Refrigerant Level
The most common cause of low refrigerant in air conditioning systems is small holes and leaks within your air conditioning unit. Most leaks result from poorly fitted components, problematic evaporator coils, and damaged valves. Refrigerant is a toxic chemical that evaporates immediately after exposure to air, so you might never notice when your system is leaking refrigerant. Many problems can occur when your air conditioner’s refrigerant is low, including the system not powering off, other AC components failing, and issues with leaking water. When the refrigerant content in your AC lowers to extreme lows, the evaporator coil is likely to freeze over. The lack of sufficient airflow often causes the freezing of the evaporator coils. As the air starts flowing and the system is heated, the ice crystals formed over the evaporator coil will melt. The generated water will then overflow, making your system leak water. If you notice that your ducts and registers are generating water drops or warm air, it is time to get your plumbing technician to refill the refrigerant. The coolant used by air conditioning units is toxic and dangerous when inhaled or consumed, so allow the refiling to be done by a professional.
Disconnected Drain Line
In some instances, the water leaking in your air conditioner could be caused by disconnected drain lines. The drain line transports water to your home’s drainage system, ensuring the smooth performance of your cooling system and the smooth removal of condensation. If the drain line does not connect properly to your home’s drainage, the water may leak into your home. The leading cause of drain line disconnection is improper installation. If the system is installed by an amateur, costly mistakes such as disconnected drain lines are bound to happen, and their effect on your property is massive. The easy way to avoid and resolve water leaks caused by improper line installment is to hire expert AC technicians with experience installing air conditioning systems similar to yours. Remember that paying a technician to check and repair your improperly installed air conditioner is more costly than paying a good technician to install your AC system right the first time. When you detect leaky issues in your air conditioner, the first step is to have it resolved by a professional. Proactive Comfort has provided high-standard AC installations, repairs, and maintenance services to families in Southern New Hampshire & surrounding areas for years. We offer high-quality and affordable AC tune-ups and repairs to your home’s air conditioning system on a scheduled timeframe to keep your system working efficiently. We understand that filters get clogged, evaporator coils can develop damage, and the drain lines can get clogged. Our technicians never disappoint when delivering prompt and quality air conditioning services unique to you and your household. Contact our technicians whenever you face issues with AC water leaks.