Here in Southwest Florida, we have an issue with humidity and wetness, which, in combination, can cause mold in your home. That’s one of the reasons the most common question we get asked about is air conditioner leaks. In general, AC leaks are the cause of about 90% of the calls air conditioning companies, like ours, receive. No surprise, finding water anywhere it doesn’t belong is a major cause for concern, because it can cause damage to your AC unit, as well as damage to your floors, walls, rugs, etc. So when your air conditioner is leaking water inside, you need to act fast to prevent water damagers and expensive repair bills.
The very first thing you need to do is to turn off the AC unit to stop the flow of water and protect your AC equipment from further damage. Then clean up the water that’s leaked so you prevent damage to rugs, floors, walls, furniture or even ceilings if it’s the second story of your house. Use a wet/dry vacuum or shop vac if necessary.
There are a number of common reasons why your air conditioner may be leaking water inside the house. These include:
A clogged condensate drain line—This is one of the most common causes of AC leaks. Your air conditioner removes water vapor from the air to help it cool. This condenses into water, collects on the evaporator coil and flows down through the drain line. This drain line can get dirt, or sometimes mold and the backup can cause a leak or a rupture in the line.
A disconnected drain line—Another common issue is a drain line that is installed incorrectly. When not securely connected, the drain line can come loose due to vibrations such as the garage door closing.
A rusted out or clogged drain pan —If you have an inside air handler, your drain line might empty into a drain pan which is then pumped out by a condensate pump. An older drain pan can get rusty and develop holes or cracks.
A condensate pump malfunction—If your condensate pump breaks down it can cause the pan to overflow as well.
A frozen evaporator coil—If you see a layer of frost or ice on your evaporator coils, this is a cause for concern. If you keep running your unit in this condition, it could burn up your compressor, a very expensive fix. This may be due to a clogged air filter, which reduces the amount of airflow over the coils. Blocked airflow over the evaporator coil causes it to get too cold and it freezes over. When it melts, it drips an excess amount of water that the pan may not be able to handle. It may also be caused by a refrigerant leak or low refrigerant in the system. Similar to a dirty air filter, low refrigerant will lower pressure in the AC system, causing the evaporator coil to freeze over.
Luckily, most of the common reasons for leaks are easily fixed by our professional techs, so you don’t have to go for long without a cool and comfortable home! If you see a puddle near your AC unit, give us a call. Our techs at Wayne Martin & Son will investigate the problem and get your home cool in no time! Call us at 239-462-4068. #airconditioningSWFL #SWFLHVAC