Is Your Air Conditioning Leaking Water? Here Are 8 Possible Reasons Why

An air conditioner (AC) keeps your house cool and comfortable by removing heat and humidity from the air. As the AC extracts humidity from the air, it generates condensate, or water, in your furnace or air handler. This water is typically kept in a drain pan and routed through piping into your home’s drain system.

Unfortunately, damaged pipes or sludge buildup can cause the piping to become clogged. When this happens, water floods the drain pan within your furnace or air handler. It can then reach your home. This is especially troublesome if your furnace or air handler is located in the attic or above a finished ceiling.

In most homes, local codes necessitate a secondary or safety drain pan that is found underneath the furnace or air handler. This secondary drain pan has piping that is directed to the outside of the home. Most of the time, the outlet of the pipe is located above the outside of a window so it’s quickly noticeable if water begins draining from this pipe outlet. It is not normal for this to occur. If you see water leaking from piping on the outside of your home, this is often a sign the primary drain is clogged and water is now draining from the safety drain pan.

Here are the most frequent explanations for why your AC is leaking water and how to take care of the issue. Some homes will also have a safety device that can automatically shut off your AC if the drain becomes clogged. In this case your system will stop cooling except if the drain is cleared of any obstructions. Regardless, if you see water leaking, ensure you set your thermostat to “off” to minimize any further water damage and contact a Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning service provider to correct the issues.

Leaking air conditioners frequently require professional help, which is why we’re here to assist you at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. We consistently deliver Expert air conditioning repair across Fort Lauderdale, backed by a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.*

1. Condensate Drain Is Blocked

When hot, humid air runs along the evaporator coil, water appears on the cold metal surface. At the end of the process, the water drains into a pan underneath the indoor coil in the furnace or air handler. As the cooling sequence takes place, the condensate flows out of the pan and into drain piping before the pan fills up.

However, mold, mineral deposits, dirt and other debris could clog the drain. This keeps the water from flowing away like it’s supposed to. Leave the unclogging process to an Expert like Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to make sure it’s done properly and without causing further damage. Service Experts can also install a safety device that will autonomously shut off your AC if the drain becomes backed up again sometime after, thus minimizing water damage within your home. Of course, scheduling maintenance on your AC will help keep your condensate drain clear and unhampered.

2. Drain Line Is Disconnected

While not very common, the drain line connection to the drain pan could become loose or disconnected. This can occur if someone is working nearby the unit or when swapping out the air filter. AC leaks may occur when the drain line disconnects from the pan. Take a look inside your AC to determine if the drain line is still leading to the coil drain pan. If it is no longer connected, we encourage calling an HVAC technician to resolve this issue as soon as possible. Schedule an appointment with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning today.

3. Condensate Pump Isn’t Working

Some air conditioners need a condensate pump to properly drain the water. These pumps are needed when the home’s drain system is placed above the AC unit. Even if the drain is unobstructed, water could back up in the pan and leak out if the condensate pump is inoperable. First, make sure that the pump is currently powered. If that’s not the root cause, the AC leak might be due to a broken condensate pump. You should contact an air conditioning contractor like Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to resolve the issue.

4. Evaporator Coil Is Grimy or Cracked

If you see little drips rather than a more substantial puddle around the outside of your furnace or air handler, water may be splashing off the evaporator coil rather than properly draining into the drain pan and condensate line. This can take place if the coils are grimy, or if holes in the insulation protecting the coils redirect the water. The smart approach to prevent the evaporator coil from going downhill is to keep up with annual air conditioning maintenance using a Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning membership.

5. Low Refrigerant Level

If you notice a leak and the AC isn’t cooling enough, the refrigerant level may be insufficient thanks to a leak. Air conditioners require refrigerant to create cold air, so getting it looked at consistently during seasonal maintenance is incredibly important for the working condition of your unit. Without adequate refrigerant, the evaporator coils may freeze over and cause the drain pan to overflow as they thaw. Contrary to some expectations, your AC does not need to be refilled unless there is a leak. The system is sealed and recharging is only necessary when a leak occurs in the system. Call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning as soon as you can to repair AC refrigerant issues quickly.

6. Dirty Air Filter

Your air conditioner’s filter needs to be changed regularly to produce adequate airflow. Without adequate ventilation, the evaporator coils could become too cold and freeze. The evaporator coils will then thaw, causing excess water to fill in the drain pan—sometimes causing an overflow. To resolve this, try changing your air filter. If the problem doesn’t go away, further repairs may be necessary. Luckily, HVAC technicians from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning are here to serve you, ensuring the problem gets resolved.

7. Outdoor Temperature Is Too Cold to Run AC

Air conditioners are made to be used during warm weather. Running your AC when outdoor temperatures are 60 degrees Fahrenheit or lower can cause the evaporator coils to freeze. Once thawed, the water and ice will drop off the evaporator coils and may lead to an overflow because of ice blocking the drain pan opening. If a water leak persists, schedule a Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning technician backed by our 100% service guarantee* to help solve the problem.

8. Damaged Drip Pan

Air conditioners are made to last, but nothing lasts forever. If you have an AC that is 12 years or older, the drip pan could be damaged or corroded even with normal use. If the drain pan has holes in it, a water leak could appear as condensate seeps directly through it. Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning can replace the drain pan and ensure your AC gets back to working normally.

Our Experts Can Meet All Your Air Conditioning Repair Needs

Whatever the reason why your AC is leaking water, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning can fix the problem. We’ll troubleshoot and fix your air conditioner, getting it back to running again right away.

Our technicians are thoroughly trained, knowledgeable and certified to provide quality work. We have full confidence in our repairs—in fact, we back up everything we perform with a one-year 100% Satisfaction Guarantee!*

We’ll even suggest a worry-free membership plan. This may help you catch AC issues, like water leaks, more quickly so you can avoid future breakdowns while keeping your house comfortable.