All central air conditioning systems produce some condensation, but when water is literally dripping into your home, that’s a problem! It can take some investigation to figure out why your indoor AC unit is leaking water, but the cause can typically be traced back to one of four problems:
A clogged drain line
A cracked drain pan
A clogged air filter
A refrigerant leak
Note: Before reading further about these issues, make sure to turn your AC system off if it’s leaking water. This can prevent the dripping from getting worse.
1. A clogged drain line
During the cooling process, your air conditioning system removes water vapor from your home’s air. This moisture condenses on your indoor AC unit’s evaporator coils and drips down into a drain pan. From there, the condensation leaves your home through a pipe called the condensate drain line.
When air conditioners aren’t regularly maintained, this drain line can get clogged with dust, mold, fungus, or other debris. Severe clogs can cause the pipe to leak or block the condensation’s exit. At that point, the only place the water can go is over the drain pan's sides.
2. A cracked drain pan
The drain pan itself can be the source of a water leak. If you own an aging AC system, then the drain pan is probably old too. The pan can corrode over time, and holes and cracks can form in the rust, allowing condensation to leak through.
3. A clogged air filter
When your air conditioner's filter gets too dirty, it prevents an adequate amount of airflow from entering your AC system. This lack of warm airflow can cause ice to form on your extremely cold evaporator coil. When the ice melts, the water that drips down can be more than your drain pan can handle, resulting in flooding over the sides.
4. A refrigerant leak
A refrigerant leak can also cause a frozen evaporator coil. When your AC’s refrigerant level is too low, it lowers the pressure in the entire system, which, in turn, causes the evaporator coil to freeze over. It’s never a good idea to ignore ice on your evaporator coil. It’s a sign that your AC system is working harder than it needs to and that unnecessary stress is being put on its expensive components, including the compressor.
At Rescue Air and Plumbing, our dedicated team has the equipment and expertise to provide you with reliable HVAC system maintenance, repairs, and replacements. For service you can count on, give us a call at (972) 201-3253.