What to Do About an Air Conditioner Leaking Water - Tips from Your AC Repair Experts

June 27, 2016

This summer, the last thing you want to worry about is an AC repair. There are trips to be had, marshmallows to roast, and your air conditioner breaking down doesn’t fit into your agenda. A pool of water by your air conditioner isn’t the pool you had thought about this summer. So what is triggering your air conditioner to leak and what can you do about it?

Clogged Condensate Drain

As your air conditioner works it grabs moisture from the air in your home. This generates condensation inside your system that has to be drained away. A clogged condensate drain is the most common cause of water leaking from your system into your home. Drains and coils get plugged with dust and debris and the water may back up into your home.

Change Your Filters

Changing your air filters is the easiest thing you can do to keep your system running smoothly. A dirty air filter keeps air from flowing over the evaporator coil. If your evaporator coil becomes caked in debris and dirt there’s a chance that it could ice up. Any ice or water is a sign of trouble.

If you do see ice on your evaporator coil, you’ll have to defrost it. To defrost it, turn your air conditioner off and flip your blower from “auto” to “on”. This will slowly allow the ice to melt in a way that your drain will be able to handle.

Turn Off Your System

If you see water around your unit inside it’s a sign that something is either leaking or not draining. It could be a minor issue, there’s no need to freak out. The first thing you should do if you view water pooling around your system is to turn off your system. Water could harm the electronic parts of your unit.

If there is any water or ice around your air conditioner it’s best to call and get the system checked out. There’s a chance that it is a tiny problem, but our professionals will know how to solve it and can help set your mind at ease. If you haven’t arranged your annual air conditioner maintenance, now is a great time to get that set up before things really start heating up. You can easily arrange an appointment with by calling us at 530-885-8081.