If you own an air conditioning unit, you probably have noticed at some point water dripping from it. And you wonder why that is. Well, there are actually several reasons for it as you shall see. Before anything else, though, we need to understand how an air conditioning works.
When you turn the AC unit on, hot air is pumped in and blows over an evaporator coil and through a refrigerant, exiting as cool air. Within this process, the evaporator coil condenses water, much like how water forms around a glass of cool water on a hot day. The water then drains through a drain pan and down to a condensate drain line, which is basically a PVC pipe coming out of your home.
If aircon drips water, the first thing you need to do is check the drain pan and the drain pipe. Make sure to clean them of any and all debris. If your drain pan is rusty, replace it.
If your AC unit is in the basement, check out the condensate pump. Check if it’s broken.
If the pan, the pipe and the condensate pump aren’t the problem, check the air filter.
A dirty air filter can block the airflow inside your aircon, causing the evaporator coil to get too cold and freeze. When it melts, it can cause for an overload of condensation.
Another reason why the aircon would leak is low refrigerant. A low refrigerant, like a dirty air filter, will cause the evaporator coil to freeze and melt. You know you have a low refrigerant when the aircon isn’t cooling properly or if you hear a bubbling noise or a hissing sound coming from the AC unit.
If your aircon is leaking, make sure to turn off the thermostat to prevent further damage.
You would probably tempted to open the air conditioning unit and check out what the problem is. However, we would advise you to only check the pan, the pipe and the condensate pump, unless if you are an HVAC repair technician. You might cause more damage to your unit if you repair DIY.
Go search for a professional by searching for “aircon repair” on Google. Make sure to add the name of the local area.
Unless if it’s an emergency situation, don’t hire the person at the top of the search results. Instead, get a quote from at least three people.
How much does it cost to hire professional help for your aircon? That really depends on the extent of damage. Obviously, if your unit just needs cleaning, it will cost less than if parts need to be replaced.
Once your unit is fixed, go ask the repair technician about installing a float switch. A float switch is a device that automatically shuts down your unit if it leaks water again.
Is there anyway to prevent water from coming out of your aircon? In our experience, the best method is routine maintenance. Make sure to have your aircon checked by professionals at least every six months.