Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Water?
One of the most common issues that homeowners experience with their air conditioners is water leaking from the unit. Here in Central Florida, the need for reliable AC can’t be overstated, so it’s important for families to understand how to recognize this issue and what they can do to resolve it on their own.
In this blog post, our air conditioning experts at Iceberg Home Services share some of the most common reasons why your air conditioner may be leaking water and quick troubleshooting tips you can try to get your system back to full functionality.
5 Reasons Your Air Conditioner Is Leaking
There are several reasons why your air conditioner may be leaking water, many of which require a simple DIY fix to get your unit back to normal working order. Below are just five of the most common reasons for a leaking AC system:
1. Old Drain Pan
During normal AC operation, your system’s indoor unit absorbs heat and extracts excess moisture from your indoor air supply. While the heat is retained in the evaporator coil, the moisture is collected in a drain pan. Over time, the drain pan can become cracked or rusted, causing your system to leak water.
The Fix: If you notice that your condensate drain pan is damaged, replace the pan to see if this resolves your leaking issue.
2. Clogged Drain Line
After water collects in your drain pan, it exits your system through the drain line. The drain line can become impacted with dust, mold, and other debris, which can block the normal flow of water and cause your drain pan to overflow and leak.
The Fix: An HVAC technician can resolve this issue by unclogging and cleaning out your drain line to restore proper water flow from your air conditioner. You should not attempt to do this on your own, as you risk damaging the components of your AC unit.
3. Dirty Air Filter
Dirty, clogged air filters don’t just lead to restricted airflow and reduced cooling efficiency. They can interfere with the flow of air over your system’s evaporator coils, causing them to freeze. When the ice over your evaporator coils starts to melt, it can cause your air conditioner to start leaking water.
The Fix: Be sure to change or clean your air filters at the recommended intervals, which is typically every three months or 90 days. However, check the recommended instructions for your air filter to ensure they are being replaced at the right frequency.
4. Low Refrigerant Levels
Dirty air filters aren’t the only thing that can cause your evaporator coils to freeze and leak water. When your system lacks adequate refrigerant levels, it can cause ice to form on your evaporator coils. This issue is especially common if your AC is leaking refrigerant, which you can easily detect if water leaks are accompanied by a hissing or bubbling noise emanating from your unit.
The Fix: Refrigerant is a toxic substance that requires specialized training to handle properly. If you suspect a refrigerant leak or low refrigerant levels have caused your evaporator coils to freeze and leak water, contact an AC repair specialist for assistance.
5. Disconnected Drain Line
An improper air conditioning installation that fails to connect the drain line to your unit can cause your AC to leak water. Without a way to drain the condensate drain pan, your system will expel the excess water however it can, which is usually into your home’s interior, causing a mess.
The Fix: Have an HVAC technician assess the installation quality of your system and repair any issues that may lead to leakage.
Get Your AC Repaired With Iceberg Home Services
If you’ve noticed that water has started leaking from your air conditioner and it’s not a fix that you can easily DIY, it’s time to contact the professional HVAC repair technicians at Iceberg Home Services. Offering 24/7 emergency AC repair solutions to families throughout Orlando and the surrounding region, we deliver the fast, effective repair services you can trust to get your system back to full functionality.
Schedule repairs for your leaking AC in the Orlando area by calling Iceberg Home Services at (863) 223-1849.
TODAY!