Did you know that every year, 1 in 50 homeowners have to file an insurance claim due to water damage? Water can quickly do a ton of costly damage to your home.
Whether it’s coming from cracked pipes, a faulty toilet seal or your air conditioner is leaking water inside, you need to figure out the source and stop the leak ASAP. Air conditioner leaks are pretty common, and luckily for you, may only require a small repair or even some simple cleaning.
If you are experiencing a leaking air conditioner inside your home and you’re panicking, take a deep breath and read on to learn what to do.
Potential Reasons Your Air Conditioner Is Leaking Water Inside
Water is found in your air conditioner because of condensation that forms when water vapor is removed from the air (which is your air conditioner’s job). This is called condensate, and it should drain from your unit into the drain pan and outside through the drain.
When the condensate isn’t draining properly, you get leaks inside your house.
Cause 1: Cracked, Missing, or Rusted Drain Pan
The drain pan sits underneath the air handler for your air conditioner (located indoors). The purpose is to catch any condensation from the air conditioner. The water is caught in the pan and then drains out.
If the pan is old and rusted, cracked, or missing, the water has nowhere to collect. If you suspect this is the cause of the leak, turn the unit off, use a wet/dry vacuum to clean any water out of the pan, and inspect it to see if there are any cracks or holes due to rust.
Cause 2: Clogged Filter
When your air filter is dirty, air can’t pass through it properly. This can cause the evaporator coils to freeze, causing ice to form. When the ice melts, it will drip water. Frozen evaporator coils can also occur if they are dirty, if your vents or registers are blocked, or you are out of refrigerant.
How often you replace your air filters will depend on how many people live in your home, whether you have a pet, how many pets you have, air pollution around your home, and the indoor air quality of your home.
Cause 3: Clogged Drain Line
The last common reason why your air conditioner might be leaking is a clogged drain line. Drain lines can get blocked with debris, fungi, or algae, making it drain slowly or not at all. You can try to clear the drain yourself, or you can call the pros to clean it for you.
What to Do About Your Leaking Air Conditioner
If you have a little DIY know-how, you can often address these problems yourself. However, if you are lacking in do-it-yourself skills and your air conditioner is leaking water inside, it’s probably best to leave the diagnoses and repairs to the professionals.
If you have a leak, get in touch. We have over 72 years of combined experience and can handle all of your HVAC needs.
