When your AC is leaking, it can be a concern. From water damage to potential time without the AC, nobody wants to see their air conditioner leaking water. Water damage can lead to mold growth, which can cost you thousands of dollars in restoration costs. Additionally, AC downtime means sweaty and uncomfortable days with even worse sleepless nights. Lucky for homeowners, a leaking air conditioner doesn’t always mean your AC is broken or is about to be inoperable. Keep reading this post from the Bryant AC & Electric blog to learn more about why your air conditioner could be leaking water.
Before We Get Started…
This is not a post with information on how to fix your air conditioner. This post will walk you through some of the common reasons as to why an air conditioner could be leaking water. In order to fix any of these issues, we recommend first getting an AC unit diagnosis from professionals, like the team here at Bryant AC & Electric. We’ll provide you with the information you need regarding the issue with the unit, and whether or not it’s an easy fix. If it’s an easy fix, something like replacing the air filter, we’ll let you know. But be warned – that’s one of the few simple fixes when it comes to a leaking air conditioner. Always trust the professionals with your air conditioner unit as you could damage it further by trying to take the repairs into your own hands.
Clogged Air Filters & Frozen Evaporator Coil
There are only a few reasons as to why an air conditioner unit is leaking water, and the most common is a clogged air filter. As mentioned above, this is an easy fix that any homeowner can do themselves. When your air filter is dirty and clogged, air has trouble passing through the intake to the unit. This inability for air to travel through the unit causes the evaporator coils to freeze up. Refrigerant flows through the evaporator coils, and requires substantial airflow in order to remove heat from the air. If the airflow is restricted, the cold air will have nowhere to go, resulting in the formation of ice and dripping water. There are other reasons for frozen evaporator coils, but a clogged air filter is the most common.
If you notice a frozen evaporator coil, turn off your unit immediately. Once the unit is cleared of all ice and dripping water, ensure that your air filter is clean and clear. If it is dirty and clogged, go to your local hardware store and pick up a new one. Avoid clogged air filters, and in turn, frozen evaporator coils by replacing your air filter every 1 to 3 months, and keeping all vents and registers clear of any blockage, like decorations or other wall or ceiling hangings.
If replacing your air filter and ensuring that your evaporator coil is thawed hasn’t stopped the leaking, then there may be a bigger problem at hand.
Cracked Drain Pain
With a cracked drain pain, we’re now getting into the “hire a professional” territory. Drain pans are located underneath your air handler, which can be found inside your home. To find out if your drain pain is cracked or overflowing, inspect the drain pan and surrounding pipes for leaks with your unit turned off. Relevant pipes will be connected directly to the drip pan, and will discharge any water outside the home. Use a wet-dry vacuum to clear out the pan, and inspect it thoroughly with a flashlight. If you notice it’s cracked or broken in any way, call the professionals to come and replace it.
It’s important to note that drain pans are most often welded directly onto the unit. In order to fix your cracked drainage pan, call a professional like the ones here at Bryant AC & Electric to replace it. There’s no way to permanently fix a cracked drainage pan apart from replacing it entirely, so let us handle it to avoid any further damage occurring to your AC unit.
Clogged Drain Line
It’s common for the condensate drain line of an air conditioner unit to become clogged by debris like algae, fungi, and dirt. In order to discover if this drain line is clogged or not, it’s best to receive a professional air conditioner diagnosis. Once you’ve learned that it is in fact your drainage line causing the leak, you can use a wet-dry vacuum to clear the drainage line yourself. Your air conditioner professional will likely do the job themselves the first time, and then provide you with instructions on how to do this yourself in the future. It’s critical that you receive an air conditioning diagnosis first before attempting to clear a clogged condensate drainage line yourself.
Air Conditioner Leaking Water? Call The Experts At Bryant AC & Electrical Service Today!
If your air conditioner unit is leaking water, and it doesn’t appear to be a clogged AC filter, you should reach out to the professionals here at Bryant AC & Electrical Service today. Our team of AC repair technicians are ready to help stop leaking ACs across all of Austin, and the rest of the central Texas area. To learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment, give us a call or reach out to us online today!
