An air conditioner (AC) keeps your house cool and comfortable by pulling heat and humidity from the air. As the AC extracts humidity from the air, it produces condensate, or water, in your furnace or air handler. This water is typically sent to a drain pan and sent through piping into your home’s drain system.
A byproduct of this process, a malfunction or sludge buildup may cause the piping to become blocked. When this happens, water backs up in the drain pan within your furnace or air handler. It can then leak into your home. This is namely troublesome if your furnace or air handler is installed in the attic or above a finished ceiling.
In most homes, municipal codes require a secondary or safety drain pan that is found underneath the furnace or air handler. This secondary drain pan possesses piping that is sent to the outside of the home. Most of the time, the outlet of the pipe is placed above the outside of a window so it’s quickly noticeable if water starts draining from this pipe outlet. It is not normal for this to occur. If you see water dripping from piping on the outside of your home, this is usually an indication the primary drain is clogged and water is now draining from the safety drain pan.
Here are the most common reasons for why your AC is leaking water and how to resolve the issue. Some homes will also have a safety device that will automatically turn off your AC if the drain becomes clogged. In this case your system will stop cooling unless the drain is cleared of any obstructions. Regardless, if you spot water leaking, be sure to set your thermostat to "off" to stop anymore water damage and reach out to a Stallion Heating Plumbing Air Conditioning service provider to correct the issues.
Leaking air conditioners routinely demand professional help, which is why we’re here to assist you at Stallion Heating Plumbing Air Conditioning. We happily deliver Expert air conditioning repair across North America, backed by a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.*
1. Condensate Drain Is Blocked
When hot, humid air runs along the evaporator coil, water collects on the cold metal surface. Ultimately, the water drains into a pan under the indoor coil within 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 overflows.
However, mold, mineral deposits, dirt and other debris can clog the drain. This stops the water from moving away like it’s supposed to. Leave the unclogging process to an Expert like Stallion Heating Plumbing Air Conditioning to make sure it’s performed properly and without causing further damage. Service Experts can also put in a safety device that will autonomously shut off your AC just in case the drain becomes backed up again sometime after, thus avoiding water damage inside your home. Of course, scheduling maintenance on your AC will help keep your condensate drain clean and open.
2. Drain Line Is Disconnected
While not very common, the drain line connection to the drain pan could become loose or disconnected. This may happen if someone is working close to the unit or when changing out the air filter. AC leaks might occur when the drain line is disconnected from the pan. Take a look inside your AC to find out if the drain line is still connected 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. Request an appointment with Stallion Heating Plumbing Air Conditioning today.
3. Condensate Pump Isn’t Working
Some air conditioners rely on a condensate pump to adequately drain the water. These pumps are necessary when the home’s drain system is placed above the AC unit. Even if the drain is clear, water might build up in the pan and leak out if the condensate pump is malfunctioning. First, make sure that the pump is currently powered. If that’s not the problem, the AC leak could be due to a broken condensate pump. You should call an air conditioning contractor like Stallion Heating Plumbing Air Conditioning to resolve the issue.
4. Evaporator Coil Is Dirty or Broken
If you see little drips in favor of a larger puddle near the outside of your furnace or air handler, water could be dripping off the evaporator coil compared to properly draining into the drain pan and condensate line. This can happen if the coils are grimy, or if holes in the insulation protecting the coils redirect the water. The smart approach to stop the evaporator coil from going downhill is to keep up with annual air conditioning maintenance using a Stallion Heating Plumbing Air Conditioning membership.
5. Low Refrigerant Level
If you uncover a leak and the AC isn't cooling enough, the refrigerant level may be lacking because of a leak. Air conditioners require refrigerant to produce cold air, so getting it inspected consistently during seasonal maintenance is highly useful for the life span of your unit. Without a full supply of refrigerant, the evaporator coils might freeze over and cause the drain pan to overflow as they thaw. Despite some expectations, your AC does not need to be replenished unless there is a leak. The system is sealed and recharging is only needed when a leak occurs inside the system. Call Stallion Heating Plumbing Air Conditioning as soon as possible to resolve AC refrigerant issues quickly.
6. Dirty Air Filter
Your air conditioner's filter needs to be changed regularly to ensure adequate airflow. Without adequate ventilation, the evaporator coils may become too cold and freeze. The evaporator coils will then thaw, causing excess water to collect in the drain pan—sometimes causing an overflow. To resolve this, try changing your air filter. If the problem doesn’t go away, additional repairs may be required. Fortunately, HVAC technicians from Stallion Heating Plumbing Air Conditioning are ready to serve you, ensuring the problem gets resolved.
7. Outdoor Temperature Is Too Cold to Run AC
Air conditioners are made to run during warm weather. Using your AC when outdoor temperatures are 60 degrees Fahrenheit or colder will sometimes cause the evaporator coils to freeze. Once thawed, the water and ice will drop off the evaporator coils and potentially create an overflow due to ice blocking the drain pan opening. If a water leak persists, schedule a Stallion Heating Plumbing Air Conditioning technician backed by our 100% service guarantee* to help solve the problem.
8. Damaged Drip Pan
Air conditioners are manufactured to last, but nothing survives forever. If you use an AC that is 12 years or older, the drip pan might be damaged or corroded due to normal use. If the drain pan has holes in it, a water leak may appear as condensate seeps directly through it. Stallion Heating Plumbing Air Conditioning can replace the drain pan and ensure your AC gets back to working like it’s supposed to.
Our Experts Can Tackle All Your Air Conditioning Repair Needs
Whatever the reason why your AC is leaking water, Stallion Heating Plumbing Air Conditioning can solve the issue. We’ll troubleshoot and fix your air conditioner, getting it back to running again without delay.
Our technicians are well trained, knowledgeable and certified to complete dependable 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 advise signing up for 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.
Contact us at 215-278-9690 to schedule your air conditioning appointment in North America today!