First things first: If you see water around your AC indoor unit, be sure to shut OFF your thermostat to prevent any further water damage.
Once you do that, it’s time to diagnose the water problem. Your air conditioner could be leaking water because of several reasons, but here are 6 of the most common:
We’ll go into more detail about each of these problems. We’ve divided them into 2 categories:
Let’s start with the AC leaking problems you can fix:
Try to fix these issues before you call a professional.
If your drain pan (sometimes called overflow pan) is rusted and cracked, it’ll start to leak water around your indoor unit. Leaky drain pans are especially common if your AC is 12+ years old.
Go to a home improvement store and ask for a drain/overflow pan. Make sure you know your AC model number. The store attendant can help you find a pan that matches your air conditioner.
If your air filter looks dirty like the one on the right, it’s may be causing your AC to leak.
How can a dirty air filter could be causing your AC to leak, you ask? Well, it’s because a dirty filter blocks air from your AC’s evaporator coil, which makes it freeze over. When the ice melts off of the coils, the drain pan fills up with water and overflows.
Check your air filter. If it looks like the filter on the right in the image above, then you should replace it. Normally you should check your filter every 3 months, but during summer cooling months you may need to check it monthly.
Have you checked your drain pan and air filters? If they aren’t the issue, your leaking problem may be caused by 1 of these problems that a certified technician should fix...
A clogged condensate drain line is the most common cause of water leakage. Sometimes dust and debris get lodged into the drain and stop it up, which makes water overflow into the drain pan and around your indoor unit.
Most ACs come with a water-overflow cutoff switch which shuts down the AC if it detects a clogged condensate line to protect your home from water damage. So if you see leaking water and you hear your system shut off suddenly, it could point to a clogged condensate drain line.
You can try to use a wet/dry vacuum to remove the dust and debris, but the easiest and most efficient way to clear a clogged drain line is to contact a professional. A professional has the right equipment to suck out the blockage.
Sometimes a drain line can loosen over time and cause the pipe to disconnect from your air conditioner. When the drain line becomes disconnected, it leaks water into your home.
Contact an AC expert to reconnect your drain line.
Low refrigerant levels in your AC cause the evaporator coil to freeze over (similar to dirty air filters). When the coil melts, it drips into the drain pan and makes it overflow.
If you hear a hissing or bubbling noise coming from your air conditioner, it could point to a refrigerant leak.
If you’re low on refrigerant, it’s because you have a leak somewhere. Your AC technician can find and repair any refrigerant leaks, but if they’re really severe you may have to replace the whole AC unit.
Learn more about refrigerant leaks.
If your AC is installed in the basement, it has a condensate pump that moves the water outside. If this is broken, you’ll start to notice puddles of water around your indoor unit.
A professional will need to repair or replace the condensate pump.
Contact Red Cap to fix your AC leaking problem. We’ll get your air conditioner working again in tip-top shape so you don’t have to worry about water coming into your home anymore. Our AC repair experts are ready to help with all your home's air conditioning service needs.