Here at Sun City Air, we’re passionate about keeping you cool during the hot weather. We make sure your air conditioning units work exactly as desired all summer long.
But what happens when you have an air conditioner leaking water? Dripping water is fun for nobody – so today we’re going to help you diagnose your problem and find a solution!
Whilst condensation is absolutely normal, given that collected moisture can build up and liquefy, this can become a problem if your drainage components don’t work as they’re meant to.
As a result, you could get damage to your electricals, and even to your home or office interior! This is why proper maintenance and air conditioning servicing is important as well as having installed in the first place by a professional.
Why is my air conditioner leaking water?
Poor maintenance or installation
A common problem, and cause of leaking water inside the AC, is poor installation or infrequent maintenance.
Improper installation can result in an incorrect amount of refrigerant that is not in line with the manufacturer’s actual product specifications!
This is why it is vital that you have your aircon installed and serviced by somebody with an eye for detail, who understands what they are doing.
Clogged drain line
A clogged drain line is usually the most common cause of air conditioning leaks. This is because, when the drain line is blocked, the drip pan will back up and cause a leak elsewhere…
This can result in it leaking water inside and this should be addressed ASAP or it can damage the aircon unit. Nobody wants this!
Unfortunately, this issue is more prevalent in window-fitted aircon machines; they’re commonly not fitted at an even level, causing water to pool in one concentrated area. Make sure to have a look where the water is leaking from – if water is leaking exclusive from one side, it may be because it is tilted in the wrong direction.
What should I do?
If you do believe there is a blockage, check for debris or dirt if you can – however you should get a professional to clean the aircon devices.
This is because you could accidentally incur damage yourself; leading to an even pricier repair.
Newer aircon devices have shutoff features that will turn the AC unit off if a clog is detected but you should still get the AC services regularly as many devices, especially older ones, will not have this function.
Blocked or dirty filter
An AC system will need its air filter cleaned or even changed on a regular basis; if this is not done, the AC filter will get dirty and airflow will be reduced!
An air filter should last around one to two months depending on usage – but you should always be on the safe side and get the AC checked more frequently as some may need changing sooner.
If you see dripping water, check the air filter first so that you can rule it out. If nothing else, a regularly changed filter will ensure that you don’t have dirty air circulating in your home or office!
Air leak
If the air around the evaporator coils gets too cold from the reduced airflow, the coils can freeze over and ice can form inside.
When that ice melts, you will have an air conditioner with leaking water inside – around perilous electrical components…
This reduced airflow can also result in air leaking out somewhere else and so it is vital to watch for any leaks as this can be indicative of a blockage in the filter.
Broken pump
A broken pump will result in little to no water being drawn from the overflow pan and the AC failing to work as expected. This will result in the pan filling up and dripping water onto the floor or surface below the unit!
Your best bet is to give one of our team a call so that we can test whether or not the pump is the issue.
We can do this by pouring some water onto the pan of the AC and observing – if there is no change then we will know that the drain line is not at fault, so the pump must be the issue!
Clogged condensation line
A condensation drainpipe on many AC units is small and narrow – so it can become clogged quite easily.
Moisture can cause mould or even attract bugs and trap general debris – this can be enough to back up the condensation drainpipe and result in a backflow of water.
A newer AC will have s shutoff function that will detect a blockage, however, an old AC will likely not have this feature and you may not know until it is too late to fix yourself!
At this point, you will have to call in a professional. The drain pipe should be maintained annually but if you live in a more humid area, this may need to be done more frequently.
Where is the water leaking from in your air conditioner?
An AC unit can leak for a variety of reasons whether it be a broken condensate pump or just a clogged line that is backup with debris that is carried in the air.
From the drain pipe
When the AC operates on cooler mode, this issue may occur due to condensation of moisture around the evaporator coil. Usually, this isn’t an issue you need to worry about. However, sometimes it may be a more serious cause for concern!
As long as the water isn’t overflowing from the drainage pipe and damaging the connected wall, this generally shouldn’t be an issue. This can often be alleviated by removing a suspected blockage in the condensate drain line and thereby allowing a greater volume of water to pass through.
You should only be concerned when you observe consistent dripping – that continues when the AC is switched off. This is a sign that the aircon unit may be faulty and you should get this checked out by one of our team.
From the bottom of the unit
An air conditioner leaking from the bottom of the unit can occur during the winter when you have your air conditioner on heating mode. When this happens, warm air is blown into your home from outside.
This change in temperature can cause condensation to form and that will rundown the unit and pool at the bottom – that is why it is normal to have a small amount of water around the base of the unit.
If this is something that is bothering you though, you can buy a drainage kit that can be installed in order to drain away this water and prevent it from pooling around the base of the air conditioning unit.
From the inside unit
The only real cause for concern is when an air conditioner is leaking water inside – as there is a risk of electric damage. This can be both expensive and dangerous. This is an instance where you should get in touch with a professional ASAP and get your air conditioner looked at.
Common reasons that can cause an air conditioner leaking water inside of the unit can include but is not limited to:
- a frozen evaporator coil
- a faulty air handler
- a disconnected or broken drain line
- a damaged drain pan or a drain pan that needs cleaning
- a clogged condensate line or drain line
- a damaged coil in need of some TLC
An air conditioner leaking water inside of the unit is never a great sign, but when you call one of our team we will be able to identify the issue and recommend a course of action!
Your air conditioner may need to be disassembled in order to find the fault but our team are well trained so you can be assured that they know what they’re doing.
Somewhere else
An air conditioner leaking water may be concerning, especially if you are unable to locate the source or if it isn’t coming from one of the usual places as stated above.
If this is the case your best bet would be to get in touch with us and we can get somebody over who will be able to diagnose the source of the leak and identify what the potential causes of your air conditioners problem.
It could end up being as simple as the drain pipes or the condensate drain that gets clogged due to mould caused by the moisture but you can’t be sure until you have asked a professional as they’ve had a proper look around.
Time to call the experts?
If you are still having issues with your air conditioner blowing warm air – it’s time to call in the experts. Our Brisbane-based air conditioning repairs team are on hand to give you the assistance you need. Call us on 07 3283 5566 or fill out a quick quote to get your air con back up and running!
Experiencing other air conditioner issues?
Check out our other guides on common problems below:
My air conditioner heat mode is not working
My air conditioner will not turn off
My air conditioner is making a loud buzzing noise
My air conditioner is not turning on
My air conditioner is sweating inside
My air conditioner is icing up
My air conditioner is blowing hot air
