When your air conditioner starts leaking water, the first thing you should do is turn it off and wipe up the excess water. Then you should check the unit to see if the puddle is caused by something simple like an iced-over coil. If the problem is more serious, you should contact a professional for air conditioning repair as soon as possible to avoid further damage.
7 reasons why your AC is leaking
1. Dirty Air Filter
The air filter is one of the most important components in your HVAC system. It is responsible for capturing dust and other air contaminants before they enter the rest of the system.
It is crucial to replace your air filter regularly to prevent it from becoming overloaded with dust and other contaminants. When this occurs, it forces the blower to work harder to move the air through your home which causes a host of problems including decreased comfort, high energy bills and even premature equipment failure.
Over time, the drain line that is responsible for draining away condensation can become clogged with debris. If you notice water leaking from your AC unit, try pouring some diluted vinegar into the drain pan to dissolve any clogs. If this doesn’t work, use a wet/dry vac to suck the debris out of the drain line.
2. Clogged Drain Line
A clogged drain line prevents your air conditioner from emptying its drip pan properly. The drain line funnels water that forms on the evaporator coil into a drip pan, which is then connected to a drainage pipe that leads outside your home. Over time, this line can get clogged with mould, dust or sludge, which allows moisture to build up and spill over into your home.
The air conditioning unit’s evaporator coil cools the warm air blown over it. This causes condensation to form, which drips down the coil and into a pan at the bottom of the unit.
The drain line that leads out of your home can become clogged with debris or may disconnect from its connection within the AC unit itself. An air conditioner repair Mississauga professional can use a wet/dry vac to clear the clog and restore proper drainage.
3. Cracked Drain Pan
The drain pan is the one that holds the water that drips from the evaporator coil. It is usually made of plastic or metal but can crack over time from temperature changes. If the drain pan is cracked, it must be replaced.
A backup or auxiliary drain pan can be used to catch the water if your primary air conditioner drain pan is leaking. You can replace a supplemental pan yourself, but it’s best to call in a professional to replace the permanent drain pan.
If you empty the air conditioning drain pan and it fills up again within a day or so, the condensate line may be clogged. A clogged drain line can be caused by many things like dirt, dust, and mould, which can wreak havoc on your air conditioner. You can try to unclog the drain line with a wet-dry vac, but it is best to have an air conditioner repair Mississauga professional do it for you.
4. Broken Condensate Pump
Over time, the evaporator coil in your indoor unit will collect moisture that needs to escape. That moisture drips into a drain pan and down a condensate line (which is typically a white PVC pipe) that leads outside your home. If dirt or dust infiltrates the drain line, it can clog and cause water to back up into the air conditioner and leak into your home.
If you suspect a clog, turn off the power to the air conditioner and disconnect the PVC tubing that connects to it. Then pour a cup of heavily diluted vinegar or bleach down the line and use a wet/dry vac to clear out the clog. If the pump is still leaking, it may need to be replaced. Alternatively, a professional can inspect the system to see what is causing it to fail.
5. Low Refrigerant Levels
If cleaning your air filter doesn’t fix the problem, it may be time to call in a professional. A lack of refrigerant causes the evaporator coil to freeze over, which in turn leads to the AC leaking water. This is a serious issue and needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
Leaking water from an air conditioning unit can cause severe damage to your home and should never be ignored. If you see puddles forming around your furnace, contact One Touch Heating & Air Conditioning right away.
A leaky AC is a sign that your refrigerant (e.g., freon) levels are low and need to be replenished. You can check for this issue by looking for signs of a leak, such as hearing a hissing sound or seeing bubbles near the furnace. You can also use the test soap technique to find the location of a refrigerant leak.
6. Damaged Evaporator Coil
When the evaporator coil is covered with dirt and grime, condensation can’t flow down into the drain pan as it should. Instead, the dirty condensation drips into the floor and may even leak into your home’s walls or ceiling.
The evaporator coil is protected by insulation, but over time this insulation can become damaged. When this happens, the interior lining of the coil may begin to erode. An HVAC technician can replace the evaporator coil to resolve this problem.
The evaporator coil drain pan is funnelled into a condensate drain line that leads outside of your home. Over time, this line can become clogged with dirt, dust, mould, and debris. When the clog becomes severe, the drain line can’t escape from your home, and water can start to flood indoors. A wet/dry vac can usually remove the debris and clear the line so that water can escape once again.
7. Loose Drain Line
Normally, water funnels from your air conditioner into a drain pan. A clogged drain line prevents this from happening, causing water to overflow from the pan.
If you have a wet/dry vac, try using it to clear the clog. Otherwise, call our AC & furnace maintenance Mississauga team to clean out your air conditioner drain line.
If your air conditioner is 15-20 years old or older, it may have a rusted drain line. Rust and other debris can clog the drain line, stopping water from leaving the air handler and going into the drip pan. This can cause the pan to overflow and leak water into your home. An HVAC repair Mississauga professional can replace your air conditioning unit’s drain line to fix this problem. They can also remove a clogged drain pan and clean it thoroughly. This helps prevent mould growth and other water-related problems.
These are the probable reasons why your AC is leaking. If you notice water leaking from your air conditioner, it is better to call our AC repair Mississauga technicians. With 15+ years of experience, our experts can deal with any AC problems. We can repair AC of any make and model. Our team will first analyze the problem and then suggest the best service options. To connect with our AC repair Mississauga team, call us at 416-844-4783.