An air conditioner is a unique appliance that uses compressed tubes of coolant fluid to pull the heat out of our homes. Despite being a present-day essential, most homeowners view the AC with a certain amount of mystery. So when your AC starts leaking, the reason why is not always clear. Since you do not run water through the AC, it raises the question of where the water is coming from and why your AC is leaking.
At Superstition Cooling, we can bring the mystery of AC performance from myth to reality. Let’s get into the nitty gritty by exploring why your AC might be leaking and how to fix it.
How Does My AC Work, and Why Does It Form Water?
The short and simple answer is that your AC forms water by pulling it out of humid air during the cooling process. Your unit’s air-cooling starts when the blower fan pulls warm, humid air out of your home through the intake vent. Dust is removed through the air filter, and humid air passes by the coils. As coolant pulls heat out of the air, the air drops its moisture, condensing inside the cold AC unit.
From there, the water and coolant part ways. The coolant evaporates into hot gas inside the tubes and is moved to the outdoor compressor unit to recondense into a cool liquid.
The water drips to the bottom of the AC unit and then pools in the overflow pan below. The overflow pan has a drain line; typically, a pump helps pull the water from the pan into the drain, which flows at a slight downward angle until the drain line terminates outside.
If your AC is leaking water, something involving the water removal process is flawed, likely broken, or clogged.
5 Common Reasons Your Air Conditioner Leaks
There are five reasons AC units are most likely to start forming puddles on the floor and causing water damage to the home. They all have to do with your unit’s system for removing the condensed water.
- The Drain Line is Clogged: If your drain line is clogged for any reason, naturally, the water cannot flow freely outside. This results in water filling up the overflow and – unfortunately – flooding onto the floor. This is the point when you notice your utility or garage space starting to pool water.
- The Drain Overflow Pan Cracked or Damaged: The next most likely issue is that the drain pan is cracked or damaged. The overflow pan has to fill up a certain amount for the drain line and pump to work. However, if a metal overflow pan rusts through or a polymer overflow cracks, it will start to leak before the drain line can do its thing, leading to water on the floor in a slow but constant flow.
- The Air Filter is Dirty: A dirty air filter is far more damaging than you might think because it allows dirt and debris into the unit, which can cause all sorts of problems. Dust that coats the coils can cause an ice buildup which can flood the AC when it melts. Debris that reaches the pooled water below can cause a clog in your drain line and result in a flooded overflow pan.
- Improper Installation: Of course, improper installation can always play a role. If your overflow pan, drain line, or pump are installed incorrectly, this will cause your air conditioner to leak water as soon as evaporation in the overflow pan is outpaced by water production.
- Broken Pump: Lastly, your drain pump may be broken. The drain pump pushes water from the overflow pan to the drain line. If your pump is broken, the overflow pan will likely overflow, and you will see your AC leaking water.
Professional Air Conditioning Repair & Maintenance Services in Apache Junction
Every homeowner in Apache Junction deserves an AC that works efficiently and without leaking all over the floor. Superstition Cooling has the expertise and the friendly technicians you need to keep your home’s HVAC system in great shape all year round.
We look forward to helping you with air conditioning repairs and maintenance based on your specific needs, whether your AC needs leak repair or a routine tune-up. Contact us today to request an estimate for your next air conditioning service.
Image Credit / Shutterstock / Maderla