Air Conditioner is Leaking Water

Although your air conditioner’s primary function is to cool your home, or more accurately speaking, to remove heat from your home, its secondary function is to remove moisture from the air. When we think of humid weather, our bodies are very well aware of the humidity (or moisture) in the atmosphere. Our bodies experience discomfort by all the heat and mugginess around us. However, whether we feel it or not, there is always a level of moisture floating in the air. In fact, moisture even exists in the coldest days. So when you turn on your cooling system on a hot day, not only is your air conditioning unit keeping your space cool, it is also capturing the airborne moisture by condensing it into water and draining it out through a drain line.

Central A/C’s Drain Line

That is, unless the drain line is clogged. Although a drain pipe should theoretically only have water flowing through it, sometimes debris will find its way into it and clog it. Over the years, algae and mold may also develop in the pipe. If you haven’t kept up with your yearly maintenance services, then all of the mildew clogging the pipe will surely need to be cleared. Or if the pipe is too congested, the drain line may need to be replaced. Not taking care of this issue can certainly cause various degrees of water damage to your home ranging from water spots on your ceiling if your air handler is in the attic, to damaged wooden floors and furniture, if the air handler is in the bottom floor of your home. Also, in worse case scenarios, your ceilings could cave in if too much water damage has already occurred.

Frozen Evaporator Coil

Another common reason your air conditioner has a pool of water spilling out of it may be due to a thawing evaporator coil. The coil should never freeze up if it is working properly. But a dirty air filter, or a refrigerant leak will cause ice to accumulate on the coils. Both of these issues inhibit airflow, which is imperative to the proper function of a cooling system. This is why it is so important to regularly schedule preventative maintenance. An experienced air conditioning specialist should inspect your cooling system at least once per year, especially before summertime when you plan on using your system every day.

For help finding a qualified A/C technician, search our listings, or call us at 866-97-ACPRO.