‘Why Is My Air Con Leaking Water?’

It’s the height of the dry season, and you probably have your air conditioner running for as long as it possibly can (without giving you electricity bill shock). While your unit is doing great in keeping your space chilly, you may have noticed that there’s more condensation than usual, or worse, it’s actually leaking water into your house.

If you only notice this occurrence during hot months, then the reason for the leak is outdoor temperature: with heat indexes skyrocketing, your AC is working really hard to keep your room cool, especially if your thermostat is at the lowest setting. That’s pretty normal, although you may want to be extra keen about maintenance as you wouldn’t want to overwork your unit. You may also want to invest in a dehumidifier, which “removes excess moisture from the air.” It keeps humidity down and  makes it easier for your air con to lower your indoor temperature.

If leakage happens even during cooler months, however, there may be other causes, such as:

Wrong installation

If your unit is brand new as is already leaking indoors, chances are it’s not properly installed. Your air con should be level, which makes its drainage pan slope towards the exterior of your home. A simple adjustment courtesy of a professional can solve the issue.  

Dirty filters

Dust and grime may have built up in your air filters, especially if you’ve missed your routine maintenance check for more than a year. This can clog your unit’s evaporator, making it freeze, and causing the drainage pan to overflow once the ice melts.

Refrigerant is running low

Low refrigerant levels can also cause the evaporator to freeze, and eventually overflow the drain pan.

Clogged condensate drain line

Similar to your filters, your condensate drain line can get clogged with dirt, which may cause water to double back into your home.

A faulty drain pan

Through the years, your drain pan may rust and form cracks or holes, which may cause water leakage. A sealant can fix the issue, but it’s better to replace it instead. You can call your unit’s customer care hotline to find out where you can buy one.

Sources: The Spruce, Cool Today, Conditioned Air Inc.

* * *

Share with us your shopping finds! Send the best things you've discoverd to [email protected] with the subject "Recommended Picks", and we may just feature it next!