Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Water?

If your air conditioner is leaking water, you need to schedule an AC inspection fast, as unchecked leaks can cause major damage to your floors, ceilings, walls, and furniture. Besides damaging your home, a leak from your AC is a major sign the unit is damaged and needs to be repaired. To keep your AC running at its best, learn about the five most common reasons your AC is leaking water and what you can do to fix them.

1. Low Refrigerant Levels

Low refrigerant levels in your AC can cause your evaporator coils to freeze and lower your unit’s pressure. Without enough pressure, your AC will leak refrigerant and blow out warmer air. Frozen evaporator coils can also cause your AC to leak whenever the temperature heats up and the coils begin to melt. Since low refrigerant levels often indicate your AC needs to be repaired, you’ll want to contact an HVAC technician to inspect your unit and solve the issue.

2. Clogged Drain Line

If you don’t regularly have your AC unit cleaned, your drain line can clog. As condensate passes through your drain line, it will deposit dirt and dust into the line. When this line isn’t cleaned, the dust, debris, and mildew can build up and block the line. Since the condensate can’t pass through a clogged line, it will start to overflow and leak out of your AC. Fortunately, an HVAC professional can easily unclog your line and clean it out to stop the leak.

3. Damaged or Rusted Drain Pan

Your AC’s drain pan is responsible for catching any condensation that drips from your unit’s air handler before the condensation flows out via your drain line. If your drain pan rusts or gets damaged, the water can start to leak. An HVAC technician can replace or fix the drain for you to stop the leak. However, a rusted drain pan is often a sign your AC is older, and you might want to consider replacing it if it's raising your energy bills and not cooling your home efficiently.

4. Dirty Air Filter

Another common reason for an AC leaking is if your AC’s filter is dirty and hasn’t been replaced recently. When an AC’s filter is dirty, air can’t pass through it, leading to frozen evaporator coils. Once the coils thaw, your AC will leak into your drain pan and potentially cause it to overflow. You can usually fix this issue by swapping out your air filter for a new one, and you can prevent it from reoccurring by changing your air filters at their recommended intervals.

5. Damaged Insulation

Your AC’s coils have insulation around them to stop condensation from flowing down them. If this insulation has been damaged and developed holes or cracks, the water will drip down your coils and leak into your home. An HVAC professional will need to repair or replace your insulation to stop the leak.

Choose Newcomb and Company for Air Conditioner Repair Services in Raleigh

If you need air conditioner repair services in Raleigh, Wilmington, or the surrounding areas, turn to Newcomb and Company. Our team of HVAC technicians can perform an AC inspection to find the source of a leak and then perform any necessary work to fix it. Alongside performing repairs, we also offer annual maintenance agreements. When you sign up for one of these agreements, we’ll provide seasonal service to your HVAC system to extend your AC’s life and prevent leaks from starting in the first place. 

Find out more about our AC repair services today. If you have any questions or want to schedule an AC inspection, please contact us.