If you’re here it’s probably because there’s a mysterious puddle of water around your air conditioner. First, don’t panic! Something is definitely wrong, but we may be able to help you determine what’s going on and how to fix it. Read on to find out why your AC is leaking.
What To Do When Your AC is Leaking
The first thing you need to do is turn off your unit. You don’t want to cause any more damage. Turning it off at the source will prevent any further complications.
Leaking is usually a result of something going on with the cold evaporator coil. The evaporator coil cools warm air that flows over it and forms condensation as a result. This condensation drips down into a drain pan and drains out of a special line away from your house or into your plumbing. When this process doesn’t happen correctly, you get a leaking AC. There are a lot of things that could be causing this condensation to pool and the resulting leaking. We’ve outlined some of the most common ones below.
Why is My AC Leaking?
A Clogged Drain Line
Everything gets dusty and dirty, and your AC is no exception. When you combine that with wetness, you get mould, sludge and more. That means clogged pipes and lines, including your drain line. This is the most common cause of a leaky AC. The fastest and safest way to deal with a clogged drain line is to have an HVAC technician clean and unclog your cooling system.
Low Refrigerant
Another possibility is that your AC is low on refrigerant. This can cause serious damage to your unit, so if this is the case get it checked out immediately! In terms of your air conditioner leaking, if the refrigerant is leaking, it will cause the system to freeze, then leak water as it melts. A certified technician can find and repair the leak.
Dirty Air Filter
Your leaking AC could also be due to something as simple as a dirty or clogged air filter. When the HVAC filter gets too dirty, it can block airflow which causes the evaporator coil to get too cold and freeze. The frozen coil then melts, dripping extra water into the drain pan that it may not be able to contain.
*Check air filters every 1-3 months and change as needed.
Broken Condensate Pump
If your unit is in the basement, it has a condensate pump which pushes the water out through the drain line to get outside and away from your air conditioner. When it breaks or malfunctions, nothing is pushing this collected water out. Therefore, it just pools around the system. To find out for sure, call a professional technician to inspect the problem.
Old AC
If your AC is old – between 10-15 years – it might be that it’s not functioning properly or something is damaged. More specifically, it could be a damaged or rusted drain pan which is allowing the water to fall through, creating a puddle of water on your floor. It’s possible that you could replace the drain pan and everything will be fine. On the other hand, it could be time to replace your AC with a newer, more efficient model.
Upgrade Your AC
The best way to diagnose and fix your leaking AC is to call Team Harding and have a licensed technician take a look. If you’re certain your AC is leaking because it’s old and worn and needs to be replaced, we can also help with that. We’ll work with you to find a high-quality, high-efficiency air conditioner that will meet the needs of your home and family. If you weren’t planning on replacing your AC, we also offer HVAC financing with options for every budget.
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Team Harding has been Ottawa’s leading home comfort specialist since 1994. We are a family-owned and operated local business and all of our installers and technicians are fully licensed.
