Florida’s hot and muggy summers aren’t the only reason that an air conditioner might leak water inside a house. If you notice your air conditioner is leaking water inside your house, there’s a fix for that.
But an air conditioner that stops leaking on its own is about as common as snowfall in our beautiful Sunshine State.
After more than 20 years in the business, we’ve learned that when an air conditioner leaks water inside a house, the leak is usually the result of seven common causes. If you’re looking to resolve the issue and discover the root cause of your leaky air conditioner, look no further.
In this article, we’ll discuss the seven most common causes of an air conditioner that leaks water.
The 7 culprits behind why an air conditioner leaks water
| 1. Broken condensate pumps 2. Damaged condensate drain pans 3. Clogged condensate pans 4. Low refrigerant fluid 5. Dirty air filters 6. Frozen evaporator coils 7. Faulty air conditioning repairs, maintenance, and installations |
First, let’s look at how water interacts with an air conditioner
To understand why an air conditioner leaks water, first, we need to take a look at how water forms on air conditioners.
Most modern air conditioning systems come install-ready with an indoor and outdoor unit. The inside unit comes equipped with an evaporator coil that helps cool warm air as the air blows over the coil.
The result is that warm air is converted to cool air, leaving you feeling comfortable indoors.
As the warm air blows over the coil, though, condensation forms. Condensation is just like the little water droplets that form on the outside of a glass on a hot day.
The droplets from your air conditioner drip into a condensate pan that leads to a drain line. The drain line then routes the water that falls into the pan to the outside, or into an interior drain.
When an air conditioner is leaking water inside a house, a problem usually exists within one of the components discussed above. Not to worry, though.
A quick visit by an A/C repair team should resolve the issue. The repair team will work on one of the seven common culprits behind leaky air conditioners.
7 common causes of an air conditioner leaking water
A leaking air conditioner can cause a world of hurt to your HVAC system (and your wallet). Water damage, overworking your unit, increased electricity bills: the list goes on and on.
Being aware of the most common reasons for an A/C leaking water will help you prevent damage, overworked units, and increasing electricity bills. Let’s take a look at the seven most common causes of an air conditioner leaking water.
1. Broken condensate pumps
If a unit is installed in the basement, your air conditioner will need to send accumulated water elsewhere. As such, your air conditioner pump should be pumping water outside.
If the pump is broken, water can’t be pumped outside your home. The result? An air conditioner that leaks water.
You should repair broken condensate pumps as soon as possible to prevent water damage inside your home.
2. Damaged parts — specifically condensate drain pans
When a condensate pan becomes damaged, the damage is usually the result of age. Air conditioning units between 12-15 years old tend to need new drain pans.
If your air conditioning system is older, you may find that the condensate drain pan is rusted or damaged. If a damaged drain pan is the issue, you can replace the old drain pan with a new one.
Doing so should help resolve the source of the water leak from your air conditioner.
3. Clogged condensate pans
A damaged condensate drain pan is one of the most common causes of an air conditioner that leaks water. Over time, an air conditioner that leaks water can be clogged with algae, dirt, dust, and other harmful debris.
When the air conditioner becomes clogged, the condensate lines can overflow from the drain pan and cause water to leak into a home.
On the contrary, you can unclog the drain line by removing the debris with a wet and dry vacuum cleaner. A wet/dry vacuum cleaner will mop up and vacuum to ensure your air conditioner remains clean and functional.
If a wet/dry vacuum doesn’t work, you’ll want to call an air conditioner repair professional. The reason is they’ll use a specialized, power vacuum — that’s vetted by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) — to remove the blockage and free up the drain line so the drain line can work as it should.
4. Low refrigerant fluid levels
When your air conditioner is low on refrigerant fluid levels, your evaporator coils can be affected. Frozen coils that then thaw can leave behind water droplets and a wet floor.
To determine if you have low refrigerant levels, be on the lookout for the following tell-tale signs:
- Gurgling noises
- Hissing noises
- Ineffective cooling
A simple and effective way to resolve refrigerant issues is by having a qualified HVAC technician inspect your system at the beginning of each season. They’ll refill your refrigerant fluid as needed so that wet messes are won and done.
5. Dirty air conditioner air filters
HVAC filters need to be changed often — like every 30 days often. We understand that that number can come as a surprise to many homeowners, but making sure to replace a dirty air filter will ensure that airflow isn’t restricted as it moves over the evaporator coil.
If airflow does become restricted, condensation can occur, and water leaks can result. What’s more, if an air filter begins to leak, your air conditioner will expend more energy to keep itself going.
The result? Possible damage and worn-out parts.
By switching your air conditioner air filters every 30 days, you can avoid a whole slew of problems with the help of a little proactive A/C maintenance.
6. Frozen evaporator coils
Speaking of frozen evaporator coils, they’re another culprit behind an air conditioner that leaks water inside a house. When your air conditioner is low on refrigerant fluid — or if evaporator coils are dirty and airflow is restricted — these issues can cause the water droplets to freeze on your air conditioner unit’s coils.
When the coils thaw, the melted ice can turn into a wet puddle in the drain pan. The drain pan can fill up fast, so you’ll want to monitor your refrigerant levels and keep your evaporator coils clean. Doing so will ensure enough airflow so the water droplets don’t freeze and potentially cause water leaks once the resulting ice thaws.
7. A faulty A/C installation or maintenance job
Like any heavy-duty appliance, a poor installation job can result in issues. The same goes for air conditioning systems.
If an air conditioning system’s condensate drain lines aren’t configured or installed as the manufacturer intended, drainage problems and water leakage are possible. Hiring a qualified professional with years of experience to install and maintain your A/C system can help prevent this issue from the get-go.
Here’s what a leaky air conditioner looks and sounds like
Curious to see what a leaky air conditioner looks and sounds like? Our HVAC professionals found this evaporator coil leak on a Trane product.
Even the best brands leak from time to time. And with Trane HVAC units taking the lion’s share of the North American HVAC market (DealLabs.Info, 2023), your next HVAC repair team should be well-equipped to fix a leaky air conditioner.
A/C leaking water inside your house? Leave it to the pros
While you might think you can fix a leaking air conditioner on your own, wet and dry vacuums and refrigerant top-offs only go so far. You’ll want a professional with decades of experience and access to the latest tools and HVAC technology to help you out.
For example, at Streamline Heating and Air, we leave all of our customers’ air conditioning systems in better condition than when they handed them off to us. That’s because our team is trained to deliver quality, A/C repairs, straightforward answers, and simplified solutions that ensure a more functional, operational, and streamlined HVAC system.
Whether you live in the Sarasota, Florida region or just want to speak with an HVAC professional about your HVAC needs, don’t hesitate to reach out to our knowledgeable and friendly HVAC tradesmen. They’d be happy to help you with all your air conditioning and HVAC needs.
