When the summer heat sets in, your air conditioner goes into overdrive, providing cool air for your entire household. As you’re enjoying a break from the Virginia heat, you want to ensure your air conditioner remains up to the task. If you find that your unit has started leaking water, you may begin to see your AC’s performance start to dip.
When your AC doesn’t perform as originally planned, it can be easy to panic and contact us for a new AC installation to try and fix the problem. However, not every issue with your AC unit requires going “scorched earth” and installing a brand new AC unit. If your AC is leaking water, knowing what caused the problem will lead to potential solutions.
How Does a Water Leak Affect My AC System?
Most modern air conditioning systems contain an indoor and outdoor unit that work together to provide your home with cool air throughout the summer. When you have an AC dripping water, it can seem like only a minor nuisance that doesn’t require immediate attention. However, if left unchecked, that drip can cause a host of problems for your home.
If your indoor unit starts leaking, the water can drip onto your ceilings, get into the walls, and cause water damage that requires more extensive — and expensive — repairs to solve.
Why Does My AC Have Water in the System to Begin With?
AC units don’t actually cool the air inside your home — they remove the heat and displace it outside through the use of refrigerant, evaporator coils, compressors, and condenser units. Additionally, air conditioners also remove moisture from the air, which is where the water comes from.
By eliminating the heat and the humidity in your home, you get to enjoy crisp, cool, refreshing air. But if any part of this system encounters an issue, you’ll need the professionals of Davis Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric to take a look.
Here are some of the possible underlying causes of your AC unit leaking water:
Refrigerant Level Issues
Your evaporator coils represent an integral part of your AC unit, and they rely on a properly maintained refrigerant level to operate properly. If the refrigerant level drops too low, the liquid inside the coils freezes.
When you turn your AC unit off, the frozen coils have time to thaw and drip into the drain pan, as the unit is designed to do. However, most drain pans aren’t designed to handle that much water flow and start to leak.
Restricted Airflow
While low refrigerant may cause evaporator coils to freeze, it’s not the only possible cause of frozen coils. When your unit experiences reduced or restricted airflow, the coils don’t absorb enough warm air, which causes issues with the refrigerant.
There are multiple reasons why the airflow might get restricted. Everything from dirty air filters, blocked vents, broken fans, issues with the air ducts, or dirty coils can impede airflow and cause the coils to freeze.
Clogged Condensate Drain Line
Your condensate pump and drain line help the AC unit eliminate excess water when gravity can’t do the job. When working properly, the condensate pump takes the excess water and safely drains it. However, over time, your drain line can get clogged with dirt, twigs, and more debris, making it harder to get the water out.
These clogs can also result in a broken condensate pump, which can lead to critical backups in your system and subsequent water leaks. Check your drain pipes for cracks and leaks, then call the professionals to make the necessary repairs.
How Do I Fix an AC Leaking Water?
The underlying causes of the water leak greatly inform how you fix the issues. With low refrigerant levels, having a professional refill unit can help address the problem. Clearing out clogged drain lines can also provide you with a quick and easy fix. However, for issues involving more in-depth fixes and getting into the bones of your system, Davis Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric is here to help!
Our team can come out to your home, inspect your leaking AC unit, diagnose what’s wrong with it, and make the necessary repairs or replacements to get your system back up and running in no time. Contact our air conditioner repair service to schedule your next appointment today!