905-743-0213You may notice water puddling under your outdoor air conditioner, which will most likely prompt you to pick up a phone and call for service. Thankfully, water leakage from your unit can be
perfectly normal. However, there are certain circumstances where a leaking AC can lead to serious problems. Today we’ll help you determine what’s normal and what isn’t for a leaking air conditioner.
When is it Normal?
Some factors to consider are your thermostat setting and the outdoor temperature. If you live in a hot climate, it’s normal to see condensation pooling by the condenser unit because it’s working extremely hard to cool your house down. This is especially the case when you keep your thermostat set lower than normal or if it’s a particularly hot day.
Drain Line
When your air conditioner is running, condensate collects on the evaporator coil and flows through the drain line, making it a prime suspect for water leaks. If it gets clogged with fungi, algae, or debris, the backup can cause leaks or ruptures on the line. The drain line also might be connected improperly. Vibrations could cause it to come loose and result in your air conditioner leaking water inside the house.
Cracked or Overflowing Drain Pan
The drain pan is located underneath the indoor air handler and catches any condensation from your air conditioner. After turning the unit off, inspect the pan and pipes for leaks. Inspect the bottom, corners, and edges of the pan with a flashlight. You can temporarily fix a cracked drain pan with water sealant, but it’s best to just replace the damaged item altogether.
Dirty or Damaged Coils
If you haven’t cleaned them in a while, your A/C coils are probably covered in a lot of dust and grime. Or, the insulation on the outside of the coils might be cracked or damaged. Either way, the condensate might not be able to run down the coils into the drain line as it’s supposed to. Instead, it gets diverted by the holes in the insulation and drips off the coil. We recommend leaving this job to the professionals.