5 Likely Reasons Your A/C is Leaking Water

No one likes to find a puddle inside underneath their air conditioner. It is almost a sure sign you need air conditioning repair in Los Gatos, CA. It is important to find out what is causing the leak and get the problem fixed as soon as possible.

The air conditioning keeps your home cool and comfortable by removing the heat and humidity from the air inside your home and transferring it outside. As it extracts the humidity, the air conditioner makes condensate, aka water, within the air handler. Normally the water moves through a pipe into the drainage system. But in some cases, moisture backs up in the drain pan. These are the most common reasons the A/C is leaking water:

1. Plugged Condensate Drain

Moisture forms on the metal surface as warm air moves over the evaporator coil. The liquid then drains down a condensate line into the drain pan. As the cycle continues, moisture drains before the pan overflows. But dirt, mineral deposits, or other buildup and debris can prevent the condensate from properly draining. The pan overflows and leaks. You will want to contact a professional technician to have them come in and unclog the drain and remove the debris.

2. Dirty or Broken Evaporator Coil

If you only notice small drips instead of a puddle, then the water may be splashing off of the evaporator coil. This usually happens if coils are dirty or if there are holes in the insulation around the coils. Annual air conditioning repair is a good way to keep an eye on the air conditioning system and prevent the evaporator coil in good repair.

3. Frozen Evaporator Coil

Another common reason why air conditioners leak is if the indoor coils freeze. As the ice crystals thaw the moisture falls onto the floor. Evaporator coils might freeze over if there is reduced airflow. You could try replacing the air filter to see if that resolves the issue. If not, it is possible the refrigerant is low. To repair the problem and replace the refrigerant you need to call an air conditioning professional.

4. Faulty Condensate Pump

Some conditioners require a condensate pump to get rid of water. If the pump malfunctions moisture can accumulate in the pan and seep out, even if the drain isn’t clogged. You can double check the pump to see if it is getting power. If that is not the problem you should call a technician to come repair or replace it.

5. Rusty Drain Pan

Sometimes a leaky air conditioner could be as simple as a rusted drain pain. If your cooling system is more than 15 years old the drain pan is likely corroded or damaged and needs to be replaced.

If you discover a leak beneath your air conditioning unit you will want to have the problem checked out right away. Consider calling the experts at Pelle Heating & Air Conditioning for air conditioning repair in Los Gatos, CA. Our professionals can come out and make repairs quickly and efficiently so you can get your cooling system back up and running.